docrio45   [at]    gmail.com

 

 


Tribute to Robert  R.   Schamberger  R.I.P.

 

Friday 28AUG2015  Gulfcoast SEALs get togther 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

Carl McLelland's Radio Shack

My Friend Carl McLelland, Pilot, Race car driver, 'nam Vet and so many hobbies !

 

 

 

                                                                        

 

 

 

      

 

 

          

 

 

             

 

 

 

    

 

          

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

     

 

  

 

 

     

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brett Jones

 


Jim's wife, Doc Riojas, Jim Glasscock

 


SUB-OPS group and Ordance Group of UDT - 21  1955

 


M.O.H. SEALs

 


Lt-Rt: Ramos, Simmons, Irish, Hyde

 

 


Lt-Rt: Joseph "Red" Coyle, Rudy Boesch, Terry Sullivan, ??

 


Rudy Boesch and two SEALs

 


The Toughest School on Earth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

 Rebecca "Becky" Byers- Menendez  R.I.P.

                             

 

 

 

 

 

                                

                                                         

                            

 

From: Jack  Menendez  
Date:Jan 24 2012
Doc Rio,  

 Today is 2 months since Becky's passing. Tomorrow would have been our 27th anniversary.  I've attached some good photos of Halloween and my last trip as Master on the SS AMERICAN VICTORY on 10 NOV 2012 (Veteran's Day "Relive History Cruise").  My wife, Becky,  was very proud of everything we did, and rightly so. She was a good woman and we miss her.


Jacklynne, Victoria, Becky, Jack Menendez

https://www.sealtwo.org/togetherserved/menendezjacklynne.jpg

 


Jack Menendez

  DOW BYERS Memorial 

 

 

Annice Marie Byers and Dow Byers  R.I.P.

byersyncs_small.jpg (19653 bytes)

               budseal_transp.gif (3120 bytes)IN LOVING MEMORY TO MY BEST FRIEND   budseal_transp.gif (3120 bytes)

dowshark020.gif (7827 bytes)

DOW F. BYERS
YNCS (DV)(PJ) SS
1931 - 1990

dowshark02.gif (7862 bytes)

 

In 1990, after we attended Rudy Boesch's retirement ceremony, and a tour of Disney World, Lourdes, Mandy (grandaughter) and I visited the Byers in Brooksville FL. 

Dow looked great, seemed very very happy and was spending much of his time painting, and tending to his horses at his ranch. We talked about old times at UWSS, and at Little Creek. Dow was retired from US Navy, and also from Old Dominion University where he was the Chief of the Security Department. He employed several retired SEALs and had a successful second career there.  John Francis Rabbitt, Dow's very best friend,  went to Dow's funeral along with their friend a BMC that worked with them at the Old Dominion University.  We did not get to see his remains because Byers was cremated.  I understand his son David took his ashes and scattered them in the Gulf of Mexico.

He was living with Annise (wife), Terry(daughter), David (his son), and Bevin Richards (his grandaughter) in Brooksville, FL. when he met his untimely demise.

He was found many hours after his fatal CVA by his children. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered over the ocean by his son David Byers. Attending his family gathering after his death were his sole survirors:

                                                       davidbyers.jpg (6233 bytes)David Byers and MCPO Driscoll at taken 1998 FO UWSS 1st Reunion

Marijeane Buers-Perry, Dan Perry and Kristen Perry

Terry Anne Byers-Richards, Dennis Richards, and Bevin Richards

Becky Byers-Menendez, CDR Jack Menendez, Velika, and Jamie.

David Byers, Cheryl Byers, Christopher Byers, and Jennifer Byers

Guests were: John Francis Rabbitt

Erasmo "Doc" Riojas and Lourdes Tolentino

CPO (Ret) his friend from Old Dominion came with Johnny Rabbitt, sorry, his name escapes my memory.

Annice B. Byers resides with her daughter Marijeane Perry in Pride, LA. 70770

Dow may you Rest in Peace in heaven

 dowbyers.jpg (22669 bytes)         

Service Record
YNCS Dow F. Byers (SS) (PJ) (DV) (UDT)

Service Record
YNCS Dow F. Byers (SS) (PJ) (DV) (UDT)

 

Unit

Duty Station

From

To

o
USN Enlisted 

Buffalo, NY 

15 July 1949

 

USNTC Great Lakes 

   Great Lakes, IL

 July 1949 

Oct 1949

 USS Barton (DD 772)

 Norfolk, VA 

Oct 1949 

May 1951

 UDT BUDS [Class 7] 

Little Creek, VA

 May 1951

 August 1951

 UDT Team 4 

Little Creek, VA

 August 1951

 November 1953

 USN Rhine River Patrol 

Wiesbaden, Germany 

November 1953 

April 1956

 USN Shore Patrol 

NAS Pensacola, FL

 April 1956 

January 1958 

USS Redfish (SS 395)

 San Diego, CA

January 1958 

September 1959

 COMSUBDIV 32 (Staff)

  San Diego, CA 

September 1959

 September 1962 

Underwater Swimmers School (UWSS) 

Key West, FL

 September 1962 

June 1967 

UDT Team 22

 Little Creek, VA

 June 1967 

January 1968

 UDT BUDS (Instructor – East Coast)

 Little Creek, VA 

January 1968 

July 1971 

USN Retired

 Little Creek, VA  

 

7 July 1971

Badges & Insignia Medals & Awards  
Special Warfare (UDT/SEAL)
National Defense Service w/Star (Korea & Vietnam Era)
Naval Parachutist (PJ) Navy Good Conduct w/Stars (5)
Submarine Warfare (SS)
WWII Navy Occupation (European Theater)
Scuba Diver (DV) Navy Expert Pistol Shot            

 

 

 

BMC Gerhard Klann, Story of Iran in 1979, published in The Blast


I met Gerhard in 1998. I had no clue what being a Navy SEAL even meant. We got along great. We spent a lot of time talking on our porch. Gerhard showed me a box of coins that he’d collected while in various countries when he served. I decided I’d take a coin out of the box, and when I did, he could tell me the story behind that coin. One evening, I grabbed a 1979- 200 Lire Coin. This is the story I heard that night:

Gerhard finally received the Legion of Merit with a “V” for combat valor on November 11, 2011, for this operation. It only took 32 years, several promises of a Medal of Honor, and a lot of sweat and tears. I’m very proud to be his wife.
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1112680

 

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Spec Ops Profile: 1st Special Operations Wing  
1st Special Operations Wing shield Military.com 

Mission 

The 1st Special Operations Wing (1st SOW) at Hurlburt Field, Fla. is one of two Air Force active duty special operations wings and falls under the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). 

The 1st SOW mission focus is unconventional warfare: counter-terrorism, combat search and rescue, personnel recovery, psychological operations, aviation assistance to developing nations, "deep battlefield" resupply, interdiction and close air support. The wing has units located at Hurlburt Field, Fla. and Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. 

The wing's core missions include aerospace surface interface, agile combat support, combat aviation advisory operations, information operations, personnel recovery/recovery operations, precision aerospace fires, psychological operations dissemination, specialized aerospace mobility and specialized aerial refueling. 

The 1st SOW also serves as a pivotal component of AFSOC's ability to provide and conduct special operations missions ranging from precision application of firepower to infiltration, exfilitration, resupply and refueling of special operations force operational elements. In addition, the 1st SOW brings distinctive intelligence capabilities to the fight, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance contributions, predictive analysis, and targeting expertise to joint special operations forces and combat search and rescue operations. 

In addition, the 1st SOW brings distinctive intelligence capabilities to the fight, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance contributions, predictive analysis, and targeting expertise to joint special operations forces and combat search and rescue operations.


 

 


Kim & Roy Dean Matthews

 

 

 

 

           

Taken from the USNavy SEAL recruiting movie ~1967 "Men With Green Faces"  These are SEAL Team ONE men.

 
Copied from the U.S. navy Training film of the 1960's  "Men with Green Faces"  These are SEAL Team ONE frogmen

 

 

 

 

 

        

 

 
Lou Boyles        

 

                              
Jeff Jacobs

 


SEALs Vietnam

 

                          
ST-1 50th Anniversary 13

 

                               


Lucky guys

 

                                   
Bob Nissley, Bill Brummuller, Rudy Boesch, and Jerry Hammerle

 


John Dearmon  &  Erasmo Riojas

 


Bob Shouse

 

 


Kevin R. Ebbert KIA

 

                               
Duane Lee McDonald                        Dan Potts and Art Streeter

 

 


Ivan Alexander Trent

 

 

CDR Job Price (SEAL) R.I.P.

       

Funeral services held for Navy Seal Commander from Montgomery County,  PA.
Monday, January 07, 2013

 

 

 

 


this is Frank Richard  said Bill Ferrand.

From:  spikey1971  [at]  aol.com
To:     docrio45 [at]  gmail.com
Date:  26June2013
Subj: SEALstuckINmud.jpg
Doc Riojas,
  I hope the message finds you and your family well. A picture, shown below, has a couple names at the bottom of it that are neither right for this SEAL. His name is Lt.(jg) John Hollow, 2IC of Foxtrot platoon at Sea Float 1970. All the best.

Mike Rush UDT/SEAL Historian/Researcher

                                            

Thank you very much Spikey.   Doc Riojas

Lt.(jg) John Hollow

 

 

 

                          Official: Navy SEAL died of apparent suicide??? 

Clinton Injured, US Navy Seal Killed In Secret US Mission To Iran Posted by EU Times on Dec 30th, 2012 
A new Foreign Military Intelligence (GRU) report circulating in the Kremlin today is saying that United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton [photo 2nd right] was injured, and a top US Navy Seal Commander killed when their C-12 Huron military passenger and transport aircraft crash landed nearly 3 weeks ago in the Iranian city of Ahvaz near the Iraqi border.

 

                                                                                                        LT. Tom BOYHAN

 

                          LT. Tom BOYHAN, Charlie Platoon, SEAL Team ONE, Vietnam


  
photo 011 - Loading C-47 for flight to Can Tho Feb'70 L- Joe Tvrdik, Lou DiCroce, Doc Brown,
Mike Thornton, Hal Kuykendall, John Duggar & Rich Doyle


photo 028 - VN Navy base Long Phu / Dung Island ops Apr'70 LSSC being used for an entire platoon op L->R: Rich Doyle, Barry Enoch, unidentified back, Mac McCarthy (MSST guy), Mike Thornton, VN interpreter Nelson (in front of Thornton), Lou DiCroce, Doc Brown (sitting in back) Joe Tvrdik, Rich Solano & Kenne Meier.


 

photo 004 - NAS North Island leaving for RVN Dec'69 L->R standing: Ltjg John Duggar, Rich Doyle, Barry Enoch,
Mike Sands, Hal Kuykendall, Mike LaCaze, Wayne Hampton.
In front: Kenne Meier, Mike Thornton, Lou DiCroce,
Pete VanFlagg, Langlois(ST1 but not with C platoon)
Sitting with DiCroce's baby: Doc Brown

 


photo 044 - Cleaning weapons post-op looking out across the perimeter at Long Phu L->R Barry Enoch, Mike Thornton (behind Barry), Rich Solano, Mike Sands & Doc Brown

 

 

       A typical day at the Tan Son Nhut Airport in Saigon (1968)

 

From: Franklin Anderson 
Date: Aug 30 , 2013
to:  Doc Rio,  Joe, Alan, Apo, Al, Bill, Bo, Bob, Bruce, Bruce, Carl, Carlos, Chip, CHUCK, Clint, Dave, Goodie, Don, Peter, Fletcher, Frank, Fred, Gary, George, Irish, Jim 
Subj:  video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=103kHGjdy9w:  Title:  A typical day at the Tan Son Nhut Airport in Saigon (1968)

Men,

It really brings back the memories---first arrived in June 64, and the airport was about ½ the size it was the last time I left in July 68. I was at TSN to pick up my relief “Bill Early”, and while he was in the briefing room they set off some explosions nearby---Late June 65, lot’s of Glass and shit flying around.

  I saw guys grabbing glass and cutting themselves---You know the Purple Heart Routine. Bill and the rest of the inductee’s came running out with big eyes, and what the shit am I in for.

  A couple of days later, they blew up the Floating Restaurant—I had told Bill it was quiet in Saigon---He didn’t believe me. While we were in the crowd at the Restaurant—Capt Archie Kuntze ( CALLED THE Mayer of Saigon) came though and bump Bill—Bill bristled up—I quickly introduced them.. 

I had gotten to Know Archie quite well, and he had told me the Story of How he and Mack Boynton helped Start SEALS. Archie was the UDT/SEAL Detailer for a number of years. Yes, a lot of memories---Glad it’s all behind us. 

Franklin

 

 

 

 

photo 005b - Ready to leave Ben Luc for Dung Island Feb'70 L->R Rich Doyle, Joe Tvrdik, Lou DiCroce, John Duggar & Doc Brown.

 


 

photo 043 - Camp at Long Phu L->R Wayne Hampton with his M-60 & Rich Solano with his Stoner drum-fed
(he usually replaced the first 20 rounds in the belt with tracer rounds - it looked like a laser when he first opened up)

 

photo 042 - Catching a ride to op area on PCF - note Hoi Chan guide in white shirt Wayne Hampton - note he's wearing Solano's
life jacket but more importantly he's carrying Solano's Stoner. Wayne normally carried the M-60.

 


photo SEAL reunion 2011 West Coast Hal Kuykendall, Mike Thornton, Tom Boyhan & Wayne Hampton 

 

 

Hi Doc Rio -

We enjoyed working with  ST-2 guys.  Ron Rogers & LDNN's at Dung Island (in fact I wrote him up for a Silver Star - which I assume he got.)   Y ou & Mac Carthy who also came down and guest operated with us. We always welcomed an extra gun on those ops.

 

Never heard Doc Brown called by the name "Chucker." He is dead.  Seriously - if you were treated poorly by my guys I apologize.  I will buy the beer next time we meet.

 

 I didn't stay in the Navy.  I did one more tour with Romeo Plt. Dec'70 - Jun'71 (only officer during VN that got to take 2 direct action SEAL platoons over as OIC ) got out in '72 after doing a stint as Ops Officer for ST-1. Saw too many staff jobs in my career path. I just wanted to be an operator not a desk jockey.

 

Yes - Hal Kuykendall is related to 1 of the original Texas Rangers. Hal certainly carried on the tradition in the sense he was a great guy to have in a firefight plus he was my admin helper & a great morale booster with his cheerful attitude. A true Texas gentleman!

 

The MOH society work has been good for Mike Thornton & from all I hear he's been good for them - raised a bunch of money & done a good job promoting the values. But he'll always be "Big Mike" - of course that's why we love him!  When the bullets were cracking overhead he got us out of harm's way.  Back in those days we payed him back by pulling him out of trouble in some Pubs.   Never saw a guy who could carry so much weight in M-60 ammo - he was amazing!

 

Tom Boyhan

USNA 1966

BUD/S 45 West Coast

UDT-13  ST-1

Doc Riojas NOTE:     Thank you very much Mr. Boyhan for the photos and your comments.  

 Wow! I did not know you wore an Academy ring!  All of you were great warriors.  While an instructor at UWSS, we gave you men some extra fun and games and never heard one negative vibe from those Officers. 

 With all due respect, there used to be and still is, the East Coast / West Coast Bull/S.  It is all in good fun and it never got worse than only "words."   As I said, Doc Brown IS the meanest SEAL Corpsman that I have ever met; totally fearless!

RIO

 

 

Janet & Tom Boyhan 

 

Janet & Tom Boyhan 
30Nov2012 

 Hi Doc Riojas 

Enclosed are a Couple more photos - 

076 - BM1 Ron Rogers marking smoke for Black Pony air strike. This op was 1 I wrote Ron up for Silver Star & Barry Enoch for Navy Cross. LDNN platoon leader Tich was KIA this op & helo's refused to extract the group because LZ was "too hot!" I know Enoch got his award and so I assumed Ron got his also. I had to get 2 PCF's and the rest of the platoon piled on board so we could secure an area near the target the guys could fight their way to with lots of clearing effect from Black Ponies overhead. That was 1 hell of an op. 

099 - Charlie Platoon HooYah picture with captured VC flag at Dung Island. L-R:  Rich Solano, Rich Doyle, Lou Dicroce, Tom Boyhan, Mike Thornton & Barry Enoch. Seated in front Joe Tvrdik. 

And finally here's a copy of the Barndance card proving you operated with Charlie Platoon! Do you recall that op? We ran into these guys on the way into the planned target. After we shot them up I dove into the water to try & recover the weapon(s). When I came up for air a VC surfaced right in back of me and Solano fired 1 tracer from his Stoner hitting the VC right in the forehead. (that's why I remember it so well!) Anyway thought you'd get a kick out of this.

This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm

 


L-R:  Rich Solano, Rich Doyle, Lou Dicroce, Tom Boyhan, Mike Thornton & Barry Enoch. Seated in front Joe Tvrdik.

 

Doc Riojas Operates with ST-1

 

 

 

                                                                                   Nicolas D. Checque

 SEAL killed,  Nicolas D. Checque,  in rescue of doctor in Afghanistan was highly decorated A U.S .Navy SEAL is being praised as a fallen hero after he died during the rescue of an American doctor kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan. NBC's Atia Abawi reports. By Jim Miklaszewski, NBC News The Pentagon on Monday identified the U.S. Navy SEAL who was killed in the rescue of an American doctor in Afghanistan as a highly-decorated 10-year veteran from Pennsylvania.

U.S. Navy SEAL killed in operation to rescue American doctor in Afghanistan From Qadir Sediqi, CNN updated 10:50 AM EST, Mon December 10, 2012 
Photo of the Doctor

Source: CNN STORY HIGHLIGHTS NEW: The freed doctor's family thanks U.S. and allied partners, grieves lost U.S. service member Dr. Dilip Joseph was among 3 abducted while returning from a rural clinic, officials say 
2 local Afghan leaders say smugglers are responsible; ISAF blames the Taliban A U.S. official says the man killed in the rescue was a member of Navy SEAL Team Six Read a version of this story in Arabic. Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- An elite U.S. special forces team rescued an American doctor who had been abducted in Afghanistan, but lost one of their own members in the mission, officials said.


 

U. S Navy Navy SEAL Nicolas D. Checque, 28, of Monroeville, Pa., was killed in the Afghan rescue operation. He did not die in vain. 

The Pentagon yesterday identified the Navy SEAL member who died over the weekend during a rescue operation that freed an American doctor from Taliban kidnappers. 

Nicolas D. Checque, 28, of Monroeville, Pa., was killed after being shot in the head late Saturday night as SEAL Team Six was sent in to rescue Dr. Dilip Joseph, a medical adviser for Morning Star Development, a non-profit medical organization that operates in war-torn Afghanistan. 

“Petty Officer 1st Class Nicolas D. Checque, 28, of Monroeville, Pa., died of combat related injuries suffered Dec. 8, while supporting operations near Kabul, Afghanistan,” the Pentagon said yesterday in a statement. “Checque was assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit.” 

Checque joined the Navy in 2002, and entered the SEAL program a year later. Awarded the Bronze Star and numerous other honors over the course of his career, Checque joined the SEAL unit that killed Osama bin Laden in 2008, though he did not take part in that raid.


From: jimebbert  AT  hotmail  DOT com
To: jimebbert   AT  hotmail  DOT  com
Subject: Kevin Ebbert
Date: Sat, 1 Dec 2012 

Friends and family, As most of you know a memorial service was held Thursday morning at the Naval Base in Little Creek Virginia for my nephew Kevin Ebbert. Kevin was killed in action on 24 November 2012 while supporting combat operations as a combat corpman/medic in Southern Afghanistan. Kevin was attached to SEAL Team Four. The Naval base at Little Creek is the home to SEAL Teams Two, Four and Ten. The service for Kevin was held at the base chapel and was extremely well attended. Estimates were that up to 1,000 people may have attended. The chapel seats 750 people and the place was overflowing with standing room only. I would estimate that at least 250 to 300 people were standing along the back, sides and front of the chapel. It was very moving to see and also to attend. Following are notes I used as a guide when it was my turn to speak. Several of Kevin's teammates and childhood friends got up to speak too. It was a long day for all, but in the end I'm proud he was a part of such a special community........truly a band of brothers. On a final note I'd like to mention The Navy SEAL Foundation based out of Virginia Beach, Virginia. I cannot put into mere words what this fine organization does every day for our warrior's anf their families. I would highly urge all of you to contribute to their meaningful cause by donating to the foundation in the name of SO1 Kevin Richard Ebbert at:  


1619 D Street, Bldg. 5326 Virginia Beach, VA 23459 navySEALfoundation.org  
Best regards to all, Jim  


Two days ago I received a text from Kevin's step father Mark Ritz asking if I would be able to get up and speak at this memorial service. I texted back that I would try. Within a few minutes I texted back to Mark saying that it would be my honor and privilege to do so. So here I am today, standing before you, and in doing so I am very honored and privileged to be here to talk a little bit about Kevin.  

Surprisingly when I received Mark's text I was reading probably one of the greatest, if not the greatest and most eloquent eulogies ever written. It was written by Pat Conroy for his father Don Conroy AKA "The Great Santini", a World War II Marine fighter pilot. If you are not aware of this eulogy from son to father, then I urge you to Google it.  

That eulogy is about a man, a father, a husband, and a warrior that lived a complete and full life......... but did not perish in battle. The Great Santini tells his son how successful he was in battle, and his son asks, "How do you know you were successful." and his father says, "Because I could see from the air that the enemy was running". His father pauses for a moment and adds,.... ......."and because they were on fire". This eulogy was written for a warrior that lived a long and full life, but did not die in battle.  

Unlike The Great Santini, Kevin was a warrior that did die in battle. Kevin was living a full life that was unfortunately cut short, never completed, and sadly..........we will never know what the end of Kevin's story would have been. This we can only hypothesize.  

So today I will briefly talk about Kevin Ebbert, my nephew. The son of a former SEAL, the nephew of a former SEAL, and a warrior and SEAL in his own right. He is also a husband, a son, a brother, a cousin, an uncle, a very special human being, a friend to many, and last but not least ............... a warrior. A warrior well and thoroughly trained to go into battle, to go into harms way, and do harm to others if necessary. As much as we may not like to think of it this way......this is the job of a SEAL, especially in time of war.  

I'll tell you first about Kevin Ebbert the non warrior. Something many of you may not know is that Kevin was an extremely accomplished musician. Kevin could read, write and often composed music. The music you are listening to today was composed and played by Kevin for a college recital. He seemed to be as comfortable with the piano as he was the guitar, but his true love was the guitar. Kevin would play for his family at many family gatherings. Normally urged & prodded to do so by his Aunt Mary. Most memorable for me though was when he played for his grandmother Pat, my mother. She loved Kevin so much you could see the pride bursting out of every pore she had. Kevin loved classical music and light jazz. He would listen to it and play it often. He received bis bachelors degree in music from UC Santa Cruz prior to joining the Navy.  
(Mention Georgia and Kevin tuning her guitar)  

Kevin was also an accomplished artist. At our home in Scottsdale I noticed that if there was a piece of paper, and a pen or pencil laying around, Kevin would be doodling or sketching. What...........I don't specifically recall, but I wish I had a few of those doodles now. He also always took time to draw with his younger cousin Georgia who now is just 6 years old, going on 7.  

I think what I may remember most about Kevin though is that he was an avid reader, and most importantly a thinker. He never spoke before thinking about what he was going to say. One evening at our home I walked into Kevin's room to say good night. He was staying with us on the weekends while he was training in Marana Arizona, about an hour south of our home. I noticed 3 books on his bedside table. One was written by Voltaire, one by Chaucer and one was poetry. As I walked in he took his I-Pod ear plugs out and I could make out the sound of classical music. If I recall correctly, I think it was Vivaldi playing. That's the Kevin I will always remember.  

Another thing that I will always remember about Kevin is that....... man that kid could eat! Not just eat.......but eat like it was nobody's business! I kid you not, I referred to Kevin as my lean, mean, eating machine. It was like an art form watching him eat. I learned to always throw lots of extra food on if Kevin was coming to eat. One night Kevin was at our home and I threw extra steaks on the grill. My wife Stacy came outside, saw all the meat cooking and asked if other people were coming over to eat. I said no, Just she and I, Kevin and our little girl. She gave me a puzzled, quizzical look, and then said.......oh yea, right, Kevin.  

Many of you know Kevin was married to his beautiful bride Ursula not too long before he deployed. There was a large (should I say HUGE) amount of family at this celebration. Kevin was swamped with family and friends and quite frankly I think more over whelmed by it all than what he may have anticipated. But Kevin being who he was just quietly got through the clamor and chaos of the Irish Catholic and Italian family members. Thank God for Ursula's side of the family. Calm...........Norwegian I believe.  

At their wedding I was fortunate enough to actually have a couple of minutes next to Kevin at a family photo event. I said to Kevin, " Ursula looks beautiful today doesn't she?" Kevin responded, "Jim she looks beautiful every day but you would be correct if you also said that she looks exceptionally beautiful today. Not only that, she looks extremely happy too." He then gave me that calm, intelligent smile of his that was his trademark. Kevin then turned and looked at Ursula and smiled even more. I could see he was truly in love and very proud to be marrying this beautiful woman.  

What many of you may not know is that on Thanksgiving day many in our family were fortunate in that we got to speak with Kevin via FaceTime. We all heard the news that evening that Kevin had been accepted into medical school. Kevin then informed us that he would be released from the Navy early so he could start school on time. It appeared that Kevin was on his way to much bigger and better things that would help not only himself and his family, but many more people that he would come into contact with in the future as medical patients.  

In this building are many of you that loved and knew Kevin the most, and those that cared about him the most; his wife Ursula, his mother Charlie, his sister Samantha, his step father Mark and many other family members.........me included. And what I do know is that Kevin was many things to many people, kind, gentle, quiet, never obtrusive, never over bearing, never sarcastic, always polite,and always a gentleman to anyone that he knew, loved, cared about, or came in contact with on a day to day basis.  

Kevin was not a big man in stature, as most SEALS are not while on active duty. We usually get that way after we leave The Teams and transition from our lean, trim and hardened active duty SEAL days to our old and overweight walrus days. I'm in those days now. So Kevin was lean and strong without an ounce of body fat on him. He was as physically and mentally prepared as any SEAL can be for the job he was assigned to do.  
(Mention Kev's evening ethos.....Jim I stay in shape not just for me, but for others that may depend on me.)  

With that being said.......he was also a warrior. A well trained, thoroughly invested killer of men if need be. It's not easy for some of us to speak or think of Kevin in this way, but it's the truth. He is and was a warrior...........among many other things. He was as well trained and prepared for battle as any soldier on this planet can be, and so are the men he went into battle with. I can assure you that as well trained as Kevin and his platoon mates are..................Kevin did not give his life for his country, it was taken from him. It is the job of Kevin and his platoon mates to make the enemy lose on the battlefield for their cause and it's a SEAL's job to ensure that the enemy loses in a rapid manner. I believe General Patton said something similar to this in a much more colorful manner of which I will not repeat here today. Unfortunately men that go into battle don't always come home to those that love them so dearly. Often times this is the unfortunate cost of war. Approximately 8,500 families have, and are going through the grieving process, just as we are all doing today. Unfortunately there will undoubtably be others, and I grieve for those that will follow.  

In ending let me read what I received in recent e-mails from family members and friends.  

Kevin's uncle, Joel Rice, in Sacramento California said, " I pray for a world where there is no need for war, as it is so damaging and the damages are so far reaching. It goes without saying that we are all forever in Kevin's debt, but I for one will look forward to the day when such sacrifice will not be be necessary".  

My friend, Scott Knauer, in Phoenix Arizona said, " Make no mistake Kevin was a warrior, and as a Navy SEAL, distinguished himself in battle, but Kevin's real dream was not to take lives, but to save them. This is exemplified in his duties as a corpsman and his acceptance into medical school at Old Dominion University just one day before his passing. This was to be his last deployment. Unfortunately his life was taken before he could pursue his true passion..........healing others. My thoughts and prayers are with Kevin, Ursula, Charlie, Samantha, Mark and the rest of your family and friends. I would ask that each of you remember that every statistic, every young man and woman killed in action, is someone's husband, son, grandson, brother, sister, niece, nephew, cousin, neighbor and friend. The world is a better place because Kevin lived, and it is a lessor place with him gone. Kevin loved his country and his family, and he was loved by all who knew him, he will be sorely missed and live in my, and others. hearts forever."  

And finally, another friend of mine, John Seger, of Phoenix Arizona, a combat wounded Army veteran of the Vietnam war, had this to say, "Let me ask that tomorrow all of us take a minute out of our day and ask that Kevin be welcomed into a place where there will be no more war or death, or tears, or pain, and where Kevin will be welcomed as the selfless hero that he is. We are free because of men like Kevin." 

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KIA click on photo to read article  on Kevin Ebbert

                                                                                                                                                                      

                   E. Ralph Morgan

E. Ralph Morgan, Senior Gemologist, A.G.A. and Retired U.S. Navy SEAL, Discusses High-Value Gemological Missions  
AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- E. Ralph Morgan was honorably released from active duty from the U.S. Navy's SEAL Team Four in February 1986. Following that, he immediately attended the Gemological Institute of America and became a Graduate Gemologist after finishing the residence course held at the school's previous location in Santa Monica, California. 

 

 

 

Sidney Robbins, a former Navy commander and construction company owner, dies at age 95 BY KATIE DREWS 
Obit photos for Sidney Robbins. Chicago Sun-Times October 25, 2012 

Sidney Robbins was a commander with one of the U.S. Navy’s original Underwater Demolition Teams in World War II who later started a construction company in Chicago and built numerous post-war homes, shopping centers and high-rises, including the Water Tower Place. 
Many years later, Mr. Robbins, a widower at the time, made news headlines when he decided to tie the knot again at age 90.

From: Tom Valentine [mailto:tvalentineus@aol.com] Sent: Friday, December 07, 2012 12:09 PM To: Maynard Weyers Subject: Interment Ceremony for Teammate Sidney Robbins 

Maynard, 

Would you be kind enough to pass the below announcement to distribution. Sidney Robbins, a WWII Frogman, will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery on 21 December at 9:00am. I've confirmed that the burial is still scheduled as cited below; attendees should muster at the Administrative Building. The following is an excerpt from Sidney's obituary: 

In 1943, he took a commission in the Navy Seabees engineering corps and later volunteered for a new unit — the UDTs, the precursor to the Navy SEALs — in response to a call for men “physically able, good swimmers and preferably single.” 

Dubbed the “Naked Warriors” and the “frogmen,” Mr. Robbins and his fellow officers performed reconnaissance missions on enemy beaches in the South Pacific with hardly any more gear than a bathing suit and face mask. 

“They would have bombs in the water and bombs on the beach to deter troops, and these men were literally swimming into the beaches and defusing bombs, and then they’d go and scout out the land,” said Mr. Robbins’ daughter, Ruth. 

He was involved in the invasion of Saipan, Tinian, Peleliu and Okinawa and later became the commanding officer of UDT 7. In 1944, he was awarded the Silver Star. 

“I would say to myself, ‘If I ever get out of this alive and well, I’ll be thankful forever and will consider the rest of my life given to me,’” Mr. Robbins wrote later in his memoir, “Good to be Alive.” 


Thanks and best regards, 

Tom

 

                                                                                                            Sidney Robbins


from: Rick Woolard 
to: Hershel, John 

John Donovan rediscovered Minh Nuygen in My Tho a few years ago and started a fundraising effort to bring him and his family to the States. I helped. The US Govt turned his application down so the money went to help Minh build a decent house and improve his family's circumstances. 

The Commies are still hard on the people who helped us round-eyes back in the day. 

The original money is all gone now, and I know Minh would deeply appreciate any contribution you care to make. 

Rick

Rick Woolard 

25Aug2015 

to me, Jim I did not read the whole story at the link but will when I get some time. 

Yep, I went to Ranger School too (Ranger Class 8/68, January-March 1968). It was not a pleasant experience - I'd rather go through BUDS again than Ranger School - but I was always glad I did it since it having the Ranger Tab on my cammies got trust and respect from Army guys for the next 28 years of my career. 

Rick



U.S. Navy SEAL dies in battle from fatal gunshot wound PENTAGON NOVEMBER 4, 2012 BY:ROBERT TILFORD

 

UDT-SEAL Museum's annual Muster brings back memories for many
By James Kirley Posted November 10, 2012
My Sea Daddy Bob Shouse                                                                                    Tom Norris MOH

Doc Rioja's pictures HERE !

 

   FOTOS  of  17AUG2012 SEAL Team ONE Reunion Coronado CA. 

Page TWO at the Yacht Club    

Mi Vida Loca - Copyright ©1998 - All Right Reserved       Webmaster:  Erasmo "Doc" Riojas        email:   docrio45@gmail.com       

 We  Did It Our Way 

                                                               

 

x

 

 

Urban donates royalties to Navy SEAL fund !

Monday, April 9, 2012 – Keith Urban announced today that all artist and publishing royalties from For You, a song written for the movie "Act of Valor," will be donated to the Navy SEAL Foundation.


 

 

Urban donates royalties to Navy SEAL fund !

Monday, April 9, 2012 – Keith Urban announced today that all artist and publishing royalties from For You, a song written for the movie "Act of Valor," will be donated to the Navy SEAL Foundation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

x 

 

 

Annice Byers


Annice Byers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                 
                                                           SEAL Team TWO, Hoss Kucinski without hat.  Vietnam war games

 

              

Lyons, and Marcinko                                              Larry Lyons

   

 

Jim Watson's Party  2011  at Ft. Pierce FL: before the UDT-SEAL Museum Muster

 

Jim Watson's Party  2011  at Ft. Pierce FL: before the UDT-SEAL Museum Muster

                                  
Please ID all these men for me and send me an email to   :   docrio45  [at] gmail  DOT  COM

 

 


??,  BOb "eagle Gallagaher and Doc Riojas

 


Janet and friends

 


Mike Gold and wife

 


Mike Mc Donald, Pete Girard,  Doc Riojas

 

 

 

 

                  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas C. Mc Cutchen native of Bastrop TX

 

 

 

 

3 3

 

 


                                                                                             Thomas C. Mc Cutchen 

 

 

    
             Johnathan Kim                                                                                      Michael D Lumpkin

 

Biography for:
Scott C. Roe
12 July  1970
Lemoore, California, USA
Birth Name: Scott Carlton Roe
Nickname: Bear
Height  6 ft.

http://www.imdb.com/name/
nm2632573/bio

SEAL Team FOUR 

http://www.military


technicaladvisors.com/

Scott C. Roe

 


Craig R. Danielson

 

                  

Alumnus David "Scooop" Copeman Looks Ahead to a Bright Future

 By Jule Epstein |   October 2010

David  “Scoop” Copeman, a highly decorated Navy Seal Senior Chief, began his UMUC  master’s degree in Computer Technology with an ambitious goal—to graduate and  retire by May 2008.

No  stranger to a challenge—David completed his bachelor’s degree in 2005 while  deployed in Afghanistan—he  began looking for a master’s program when his unit transferred to Iraq in 2006.  He decided on UMUC.

“I looked at a couple of different options and found that  UMUC was the best choice for me,” says David. “UMUC has an excellent record  of being military friendly, so I signed up for my first class starting January  of 2006.” 

Although  the road ahead promised some looming obstacles, David charged forward and  attributes his strong family structure and work ethic for getting him through. At  times, his service as a “Dev Group” Seal made it extremely challenging for him  to plan for his studies. “Being in a unit that did  multiple rotations overseas, I found that the most difficult part was balancing  my studies with family, friends, training commitments, and deployments,”  explains David.

                                                                             David "Scoop" Copeman

 

 

Craig S. Swafford MD


Craig S. Swafford MD, PLLC, FACS               http://www.universitysurgical.com/www/surgeons/surg34

 

                   
       Erasmo Elias Riojas HMC (DV)(PJ)(SEAL)             Sterling Baker           Doc Riojas

 

              
                       Robert J. Thomas                              July2011  SEAL Funeral                           Darryl  Young

 


         Joseph  "Red" Coyle                                                                         Adm. McRaven 

 

 

Franklin Anderson

     Franklin Anderson memories of Vietnam ST-1 operators KIA'd 

From: Franklin Anderson
To: Pam Russell 
Cc: mwagner32  at   bellsouth  DOT  net
Sent: Thu, March 31, 2011 
Subject: FW: Billy Machen & Dzve Wilson 
 Sent: Thu, March 31, 2011 11:08:55 PM
Subject: FW: Billy Machen & Dzve Wilson 

From: Doc Riojas
Date: Fri, Apr 08, 2011 5:52 pm
To: fwaranch@wildblue.net
Subj: Sir, with your permission, i would like to place this history in www.sealtwo.org. 

Very Respectfully, 
Erasmo "Doc" Riojas 
281 485 0177 Pearland TX 




This request brings back a lot of sad memories. Dave Wilson was a good friend and an outstanding Sailor—I sent him to several schools, and he came back top of his class each time. He was an IRON MAN that was always in excellent physical condition- He was killed on an operation in the Rung Sat Special Zone on 14 Jan 69. I had detach in Jul 68, however, I kept in contact with many of the team member. I understand that Dave was in pursuit of some VC, and was hit—and passed away due to extremely serious wounds IN THE FIELD. 

Frank Bomar was assigned to the PRU’S and was on an operations with his unit, and was in a Sampan and killed on 20 DEC 70. Leaving behind a wife and 2 daughters. One daughter and his wife have passed away. 

David (SKINNER) Devine – Was an outstanding operator, and was on a mission, and carrying a large pack--- He was crossing a stream and was walking on the bottom, did not have quick releases on his pack, and drowned—A great loss. This happened on 6 May 68 His wife Rose has remarried, but comes to the Reunions. 

Donald Zillgitt – A young man that tried very hard to over come his fears---He was on an operation in the RSSZ and was charging a VC who had come out of a spider hole and was shot.---WO Boles killed the VC. 12 May 68—Zillgitt was one of the first SEALs that I select straight out of Training. 

Robert Wagner – An outstanding Plank owner who was selected for SEAL TEAM, even before he had completed training. Maynard Weyers, Ted Kassa and Bob Wagner were responsible for the formation of the PRU’S which was a highly successful program using Choi Hoi’s against the VC. Bob made several trips to Vietnam and was a prime target for the VC, due to his high visibility in leading the PRU’S—He was blown up along with a PRU member who was fiddling with a bomb-booby trap---on 15 Aug 68- there is a website put together by Bob’s son Mike. 

Leslie Funk- An outstanding young man from Roseburg, Oregon—he was on a training mission under the supervision of LT Meston, They were practicing prisoner handling and Les was BOUND hands and feet—on the bow of an IBS, as they were attempting to board a boat- the IBS BUMPED the hull of the boat and Les went into the river—and drowned. 6 Oct 67.

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       A typical day at the Tan Son Nhut Airport in Saigon (1968)

 

From: Franklin Anderson 
Date: Aug 30 , 2013
to:  Doc Rio,  Joe, Alan, Apo, Al, Bill, Bo, Bob, Bruce, Bruce, Carl, Carlos, Chip, CHUCK, Clint, Dave, Goodie, Don, Peter, Fletcher, Frank, Fred, Gary, George, Irish, Jim 
Subj:  video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=103kHGjdy9w:  Title:  A typical day at the Tan Son Nhut Airport in Saigon (1968)

Men,

It really brings back the memories---first arrived in June 64, and the airport was about ½ the size it was the last time I left in July 68. I was at TSN to pick up my relief “Bill Early”, and while he was in the briefing room they set off some explosions nearby---Late June 65, lot’s of Glass and shit flying around.

 I saw guys grabbing glass and cutting themselves---You know the Purple Heart Routine. Bill and the rest of the inductee’s came running out with big eyes, and what the shit am I in for.

 A couple of days later, they blew up the Floating Restaurant—I had told Bill it was quiet in Saigon---He didn’t believe me. While we were in the crowd at the Restaurant—Capt Archie Kuntze ( CALLED THE Mayer of Saigon) came though and bump Bill—Bill bristled up—I quickly introduced them.. 

I had gotten to Know Archie quite well, and he had told me the Story of How he and Mack Boynton helped Start SEALS. Archie was the UDT/SEAL Detailer for a number of years. Yes, a lot of memories---Glad it’s all behind us. 

Franklin

 

 

 

 

 

            
"Hoot" ANdrews         Phil Mees,  Ben Panas, Jim Seidel                          Doc Riojas   (80th B/day)

 

                               

                                Bottow ROW:dead center with open sandals:  Mike Naus

 

                       
      Lt -Rt: Hook Tuure, Pete Peterson, Phil Mees, Andy ANderson, Jim Seidel (front)   Class 27 E.C.

 

                                      
                                Lt-Rt: John Roat, Larry Bailey, Mrs and Bill Goines, Jerry Todd and  ???

 

         
    Joe DiMartino, Aldo Ray,  ???                         Ty Zellers ,   LDNN and Sitting  McDonald

 

Adam Smith

Navy SEAL Adam Smith Laid to Rest in Missouri

 October 4th, 2010

Special Operator 2nd Class Adam Smith is one of three Navy SEALs who perished in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan last September 21. On October 2, he was laid to rest in his native Missouri, according to a feature on the Navy website:  http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=56366

                

The town of Macon, Missouri, Smith’s hometown, gave honor to the fallen Navy SEAL and remembered him as a hometown hero. Thousands attended the memorial ceremony and the funeral procession that followed.

The funeral service was held at the First Baptist Church, with hundreds of people in attendance. Thousands of citizens of the town of Macon then came out to pay their last respects to the fallen Navy SEAL, as the funeral procession that took Smith from the church to his final resting place made its way through the town.

 

Denis Miranda

Navy SEAL killed in Afghanistan is interred in Toms River

Published: Thursday, September 30, 2010, 6:17 PM     Updated: Thursday, September 30, 2010, 8:56 PM

 MaryAnn Spoto/The Star-Ledger

 

Navy SEALs line up to pound their Special Warfare insignias, also known as SEAL Tridents, into the lid of the casket of their fallen comrade, Denis Miranda, during his funeral at Ocean County Memorial Park. Each of the 28 Navy Seals in attendance walked up to the casket and pounded his Trident into the top of the casket, a special forces tradition. See more photos here.

TOMS RIVER — For almost as long as Denis Miranda talked about joining the Navy, he also talked about becoming a Navy SEAL, but he wasn’t sure he was ready to join the elite special operations force.

But his best friend, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Eugene Lewis III, knew Miranda would make it.

"He thought he was too young and he wasn’t ready. But when he decided he wanted to be a SEAL, I knew he was going to be ready because all he did was read books about it, talk about it," Lewis, a fellow Navy man, said.

In a ceremony yesterday with military honors, Miranda was laid to rest and remembered as a humble man who put others’ safety and concerns over his own.

Joining the Navy just months after his 2003 graduation from Toms River High School East, Miranda attended aviation technical training and was assigned to Patrol Squadron 8 in Jacksonville, Fla., where he was a maintenance technician. In 2007, he was accepted into Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training and became a Navy SEAL in 2008.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/navy_seal_killed_in_afghanista.html

 

                                               

 

                                         

                                                    

Navy SEALs line up to pound their Special Warfare insignias, also known as SEAL Tridents, into the lid of the casket of their fallen comrade, Denis Miranda, during his funeral at Ocean County Memorial Park. Each of the 28 Navy Seals in attendance walked up to the casket and pounded his Trident into the top of the casket, a special forces tradition.

DOD Identifies Navy Casualties

               The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of four sailors who died in a helicopter crash Sept. 21 during combat operations in the Zabul province, Afghanistan, while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

              Killed were:

               Lt. (SEAL) Brendan J. Looney, 29, of Owings, Md., assigned to a West Coast-based SEAL Team.

              Senior Chief Petty Officer David B. McLendon, 30, of Thomasville, Ga., assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit.

              Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Adam O. Smith, 26, of Hurland, Mo., assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL Team.

              Petty Officer 3rd Class (SEAL) Denis C. Miranda, 24, of Toms River, N.J., assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL Team.

              For further information related to this release, contact Lt. Arlo Abrahamson at 757-763-2007 or 757-620-3109.


                                            SEAL  Funeral

         
                                                                                                                            B.J.Looney KIA

 

 

 

 

Local SEAL killed in Afghanistan crash laid to rest in Missour

                                               

Rear Adm. Garry Bonelli presents the American flag that draped the coffin of Petty Officer 2nd Class Adam Smith to Smith's family at his funeral Saturday in Missouri. Smith was one of nine servicemembers killed when the helicopter in which they were traveling crashed in Zabul province in southern Afghanistan on Sept. 21. (Photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Robert J. Fluegel) (U.S. Navy photo)

 

 

 

 

David M. Bodkin

 David M. Bodkin, USN (Ret) SEAL Class 28  August 17, 2010

"Kalokidave"

  

 

MARROWSTONE ISLAND -- A Nordland man who was killed in a collision Tuesday was a "gentle giant," a retired Navy SEAL and explosives expert who yet always put people at ease.

David M. Bodkin, 67, died Tuesday afternoon when the motor home he was driving swerved across the double yellow line and collided with a car at about 2:30 p.m., the State Patrol said.

Bodkin "loved shooting the breeze with his friends" and recalling old times, said his stepdaughter, Alene Moroni of Seattle, on Wednesday.
He was proud of his service in the armed forces, and loved talking to both older veterans and those who had served more recently.

He "loved sailing, fishing, and hunting," Moroni said.

After his retirement from the Navy in 1982, he and his wife, Sharon, spent eight years sailing around the world in their sailboat, The Kaloki, Moroni said
.

Kaloki, which means "swan," was also the nickname of the 6-foot-4-inch-tall man, she added. "People really connected with him," Moroni said.

She said that those connections extended into unexpected places, such as when she phoned a doctor's office to cancel an appointment on Wednesday and "the receptionist started crying when she heard the news
."

Bodkin, a Seattle native, joined the Navy upon his graduation from high school in West Seattle in 1961. He was a Navy SEAL until he retired in 1982, Moroni said.

He served in Vietnam before moving to Jefferson County in 1979 to work at the Indian Island Naval Magazine, at which time he moved into his current home in Nordland on Marrowstone Island, she said.

After his retirement from the Navy, he continued doing contract work and had recently worked in Iraq, Moroni said.

He was an expert in clearing explosives, which was the basis of much of his contract work, she said.

Bodkin also is survived by his wife of 33 years, Sharon Bodkin of Nordland, and a sister, Laura McDonald of Broken Arrow, Okla.

Remembrances may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org

 

 

 

 

 Capt. Dick Couch

Former Navy SEAL Capt. Dick CouchOffers Advice to Future Leaders  

     LEXINGTON, Va., Oct. 6, 2010 – Many in VMI’s Corps of Cadets know retired Navy Capt. Dick Couch as the author of nonfiction works such as The Warrior Elite, Chosen Soldier, and The Sheriff of Ramadi. His personal experience as a former Navy SEAL, CIA operations officer, and journalist gives him credibility among soon-to-be military officers. After his visit to the Institute on Oct. 5, Couch raised his stature by offering valuable words of wisdom.

Couch was among many well known leaders from the military, academia, and business who converged on VMI’s Center for Leadership and Ethics for the Institute’s inaugural leadership conference Oct. 4-6. Taking the theme “Answering the Nation’s Call for Leaders of Character,” the conference sought to address elements vital to developing ethical leadership.

“Honor, trust and moral courage are the bedrock of service,” said Couch. “As a second lieutenant, you’ll be caught in the middle. Those above you will want to know if they can trust you; those down the chain will need you to serve as a moral agent.”

Couch laid out three simple rules for those about to commission: set a personal example, make your values known, and revisit those values often.

In comparing the challenges he faced as a young officer in Vietnam to those experienced by today’s generation, Couch said changes in society have made the job harder for current young officers. Yet while moral standards have become ambiguous, the standards of the military have remained the same.

“The graphic nature of the media you’re exposed to is vastly different than when I was your age,” he said. “The people coming into the military have less moral standards. Your job is to prepare them, take them into battle and bring them back. You have a duty to them but also to your country, and you must protect the relationship you have with the people that you serve.”

Couch advised the VMI cadets and those from other military schools to strike a happy medium in their leadership style. When asked how to relate to men and women in their command, he said they must learn to fit in but not to fit in too much. He added that they cannot let their enlisted leaders intimidate them.

“If I were you, I would meet with my senior enlisted leaders and ask them about their men,” he said. “I would say ‘Let’s talk about your role and my role, and let’s lead together,’ and I would define responsibilities and lay them out. You’re there to lead but you’re also there to learn.”

The audience at VMI is one of many Couch has addressed since he retired from the Navy Reserves in 1997. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he’s appeared frequently as a military expert on nationally syndicated TV and radio programs and is the author of 10 works of fiction and non-fiction.

Couch’s most recent work of non-fiction, The Sheriff of Ramadi, reports on the actions of the SEAL Task Unit during the Battle of Ramadi in Iraq’s al-Anbar Province between 2005 and 2007. Calling the Battle of Ramadi one of the most significant military engagements in the global war against terrorism since the terrorist attacks on the U.S. of Sept. 11, 2001, and the most sustained and vicious engagement ever fought by SEALs, he describes the success of special operations forces and Navy SEALs fighting side by side with conventional forces.

–VMI–

 

                                    

                 

 

 

 

 

                Rob Rambeck                  Bike Badger                         John Muckle

 

 

 

                   .                                                 
             JULIET Platoon SEAL Team ONE
        I.D.'s of the all the SEALs in this photo

           
                                front:Scott Brachman the SEAL behind him ???

 

 

                                 

                                                                            Brian Schad

 

 


 

To:  Doc Rio;

Hey   I have another ‘funny’ one for you, Doc.  When I was in BUDS, marching around NAB at double-time, we used to sing a song, “C-130 rolling down the strip, SEAL team daddy gonna’ take a little trip…”  Well, until I got to the teams, I thought “See 130” was our BUDS Class 130!  …and I’m NOT the only one!! J

Not on active-duty for 14 years now, so let me see what I have for an attachment…  --  Rud     Brian Schad

 


 

                                           
Robert "Eagle" Gallagher ST-2 notoriaty

 

                http://oldseals.com/mscpics.htm
F.H. Kaiser

                            
                                                       Chuck Jessie ST-2 7th Platoon


                                                       Espi, Rio, Jimbo Watson

                         
                              Jesse Ventura,                          Michael E. Thornton,                 Adm.H.McRaven 

           
                            William Mc Raven and Robert Harward


              
            GulfCoast SEALs 2009 Houston Nat. Cemetery


         Erasmo "Doc" Riojas, Lil Rio, CPO Rocha

                                                          
                                                                 Doc Rio, Curt GIbby, Larry Theordine, Dave Casale

 

 
 Lt to Rt:   Laddie Shaw, Jan Janos, Frank Sparks, Dan Potts

 


                           Dan Potts being used as a boat                

              
                           Lt.toRt: VC sitting, Glen Grinnage (BSU-1), Doc Riojas, Chuck Jessie, LT Bob Peterson

                                            

                 
                                                                 Glen Grinagealign="left">  

                                      


Kiet   Tiz Morrison            
Marcus "Doc" Lutrell                     Fred "Tiz" Morrison                                                Marcus "Doc" Luttrell

 

 

               
        Korea Police Action,  Erasmo "Doc" Riojas.                              Charlie Medical Co.

                      

 

     

Dan Olson Vietnam Photos 

  Dan Olson Vietnam Photos 


    All Photos by Dan Olson, SEAL Team TWO

  Waiting for ex-fil on An-Toi island beach

ARVN leaving for their op


QM3 R. P., Steve "Doc" Elson Dan Olson Bill Bibby

                          An Toi island beach waiting for the junk


   Pat Martin  ;  Lt. Bill Gardner, below Tom Blais


 Jim Burrison and Greg Frisch looking for B-40 rocket cache


Slick lands to let the other squat insert


Two Slicks over the Rung Sat Special Zone. Mekong River below.


Local village with drying rice



Ron Rogers and Dave Southerland  on Mo's flight deck


Steve Dunthorn Jim Burrison Steve Elson Ron Rogers on Mo's flight deck


VN in a sampan

 

                                                            

 
Capt. Dennis Granger
                                                  

Somebody! send me all their names !           Thanks  Doc Riojas email me:       el_ticitl@yahoo.com

                                       

                          

                                                                  

Herb Ruth


From: "Ron Montgomery" 
To:  "Rio Doc Riojas", Norm Olson
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 
Subject: Do you remember Warrant Officer Ruth? 


Hello Gentlemen,     Do you remember Warrant Officer Ruth?  I remember him but he was not at SEAL Two very long after I arrived.  I keep in touch with his son, Kerry Ruth.  Kerry lives in Utah.  He said he had photos of Jack Lynch back in the 70's when his dad and mom took Kerry and others down to Florida for a real estate deal .  He thinks it was "Palm Coast."  Have you ever heard of it?  I am going to ask him if he has a way to scan and transmit the photos.   If he does I will send them to you Doc, the FO and the Foundation 

Monty

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To Monty & Rio,    

 A little background on Herb Ruth. He reported to UDT ELEVEN while I was CO (63-66). He had been pushing boots at NTC, San Diego and went through training as a Chief, which is remarkable unto itself. We deployed to Vietnam together, and when he returned, he was transferred to SEAL Team ONE, where he continued to serve admirably. During one of his tours, he was awarded the Silver Star.  

   When he was commissioned, I believe he was first promoted to WO and then to LDO, retiring as either a LT or LCDR in New Orleans, where he served as the Operations Officer, Coastal River Division 22. When he was first commissioned, he was transferred to SEAL Team TWO, where I ran into him again in the early 70s. He was a superb operator, a perfect gentleman and one who truly epitomized the term, "Silent Professional." 

   He was a devote Mormon and didn't drink, but he always participated in Team events, and he never had any problem with what the rest of the guys were doing. He just kept smiling. He retired on/about 1975 and moved back to Utah and became a State Trooper.    

  A few years later, he died of a heart attack. When I put the UDT-SEAL Museum together in Ft. Pierce (84-85), I was contacted by his wife, Rowena, who informed me of his passing, and over the years we kept in close contact. I also kept in contact with his son, Kerry, but a few years back, he seemed to go off the deep end and our communications ended.     In May of last year, he informed me that Rowena had a sever stroke and was hospitalized.

Norm

                                                     

                                                                   Roger Moscone and Herb Ruth  may they R.I.P.

From: Dean Cummings 

To: 'Cummings, Dean B Mr CIV USSOCOM NSWCEN' 

Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 9:23 PM 

To All, 

I’m passing the word that Roger Moscone died either last night, or this morning (06 Feb 2007). Some of you may have more/better info than I have but I’m just trying to get the word out to those who may have known him. He passed away peacefully at the VA hospital up in La Jolla…reportedly, he was telling jokes and stories up until the end. 

I’ll always remember meeting Roger when I started working the reunions; Roger and Wally Fowler would always be the greeters at the door, and Roger was always full of life, humor, a big smile and a big slap on the back. 

He will be missed. 

Dean


below email from Bill Langley (SEAL)


 From: "Ron Montgomery" ron.montgomery @ triplecanopy.com  SEAL , retired

Subject:   ROGER  MOSCONE (SEAL) W.O. USN Ret

Good day all, I haven't seen, written nor spoken to some of you in some years and some will not even remember me. That is okay because this is an email so you will remember Roger. You may have heard this distressing news. I don't enjoy these bad news things but Roger Moscone was a large influence on many of us when we were young men. He ran the detachment in PR back when we at  (SEAL Two) had no funds.  

He ran much of the PR Det on the funds made on the bar we ran (The Library). We set up shop in the old CPO club on the point. We had a dance floor, saltwater fountain, two bars, a full kitchen and some of the most colorful characters SEAL Two every produced. We didn't have any berthing as the building was not designed for it. I think we stayed at Bundy barracks during the beginning of my stay. Every morning we would wake up to Charlie Bump on the radio attempting to call the team back at the creek "a Singapore, a Singapore radio check over".

 I am not sure we ever made comms. Slater Blackesten (sp) talked the Seabees into remodeling the dance floor into a berthing area for a K-Bar and some of those extraordinarily uncomfortable tan UDT swim trunks. We (young guys) did a lot of stupid crap but Roger never got to the point of boiling over about it. I suppose he have seen a lot of foolish stunts. Roger didn't even get all that upset when Dan Sharpe and I put anchor chain oil on the roof thinking it was tar to patch the roof. 

We weren't sailors, we didn't know what anchor chain lubricant was. It looked like tar to us. A few weeks later we started noticing little spots of oil on the floor and couldn't figure out who was tracking it in. Soon an entire panel of sheetrock fell to the floor beside the pool table we had acquired from the "JINX" bar. It had about three inches of oil on it. Roger didn't even get mad when we would sink the boat (every month). He would be standing on the dock when we would swim up towing the boat. We could not understand how he always knew when we screwed up. As we swam up we would be standing on the end of the pier with his huge arms folded and a frown showing under his two pound mustache.

 We would be spouting excuses "We went through the wave and it swamped". About all he would say was fix it. Next morning it would be up and running. I am sure he knew the little 12 foot whaler was way, way over powered. Les Heard and Cookie Watkins would put together a family style dinner now and then in our huge commercial kitchen. Roger would sit at the head of the table like the father of a bunch of rowdy kids. Many team members came and went during that period but there were a few that were there for extended stays.

 When I went down to PR, Rudy told me to take a toothbrush and some civies and I would probably be there two weeks. I was there nine months. Roger was a good man to work for and although Dan, Les, Cookie and I were just new guys I am sure we all left there thinking of Roger as a friend, mentor, and role model.

 Some of you older team members may have known him in a different light. That is normal but to us young guys he was as a man that ran a SEAL training detachment and accomplished much on charisma and little funding. I wish him well. 

Monty 


--------------------------------------
From: SUSIE RAUCH

 SUSIERAUCH @ aol.com

Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 12:29 AM 

Subject: ROGER MOSCONE 

THIS IS THE HARDEST LETTER I HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU GUYS. MY LONGTIME FRIEND, AND BROTHER IN LAW ROGER MOSCONE IS NOT DOING WELL. MY SISTER IN LAW SANDI HAD TO PUT ROGER BACK IN THE HOSPITAL. ROGER HAS BEEN ILL FOR QUITE SOMETIME, AT FIRST HE WANTED FEW PEOPLE TO KNOW BUT NOW SAYS IT IS OK IF I TELL PEOPLE. ROGER HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH HIS BLOOD A FEW YEARS, HIS BONE MARROW WAS NOT MAKING RED BLOOD CELLS.

 HE HAS HAD TO LIVE WITH GETTING BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS FOR A LONG TIME. RECENTLY HE HAS HAD A TUMOR IN THE LUNGS AND HAS HAD CHEMO, NOW HE HAS TUMORS ON THE BRAIN AND HAS HAD RADIATION. I VISITED WITH ROGER THE OTHER DAY FOR QUITE A LONG TIME. HE STILL HAS HIS GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR.

 WE TALKED ABOUT OLD TIMES, LIKE BACK IN THE 60'S AND 
70'S. WE HAD A GREAT VISIT AND I WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT TIME. SAND GOT TO HAVE SOME TIME TO DO COMMISSARY SHOPPING. SHE HAS TAKEN SUCH GOOD CARE OF ROGER, NEVER WANTING TO LEAVE HIM, I PRACTICALLY HAD TO PUSH HER OUT THE DOOR. ROGER CAME TO OUR HOUSE TO PICK UP HIS CAR REGISTRATION ONE YEAR. 

THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING AND LEON'S SISTER SANDI WAS THERE, THEY MET AND I THOUGHT ROGER WOULD NEVER GO HOME, THAT WAS 20 YEARS AGO. IT HAS BEEN GREAT FOR BOTH OF THEM. I AM GLAD ROGER WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE REUNION LAST YEAR. I THINK SANDI HAD TO DRAG HIM OUT AT CLOSING TIME HE WAS HAVING SUCH A GOOD TIME, BUT HE PAID FOR IT THE NEXT DAY AND I'M SURE HE FELT IT WAS WORTH IT! ROGER IS AT THE VA HOSPITAL AND THEY SAY THEY THINK HE HAS SOME SORT OF INFECTION. 

WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. BUT FELT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW. I DON'T WANT TO SAY HE WILL NOT BE BACK HOME . HE HAS A LOT OF WILL POWER AND HE IS A TOUGH SEAL. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT SANDI, please email me for her telephone number. 

FOR CARDS THE ADDRESS IS 757 EMORY ST. PMB #546 IMPERIAL BEACH, CA. 91932.

 SANDI WILL PROBABLY BE AT THE HOSPITAL MOST OF THE TIME, BUT IF YOU CAN'T REACH HER JUST LEAVE A MESSAGE, I AM SURE SHE WILL RELAY THE MESSAGE TO ROGER, AND GOD WILLING HE WILL BE BACK HOME!

 PLEASE KEEP ROGER IN YOUR PRAYERS. ANY FURTHER NEWS I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED, AND IF YOU ALREADY KNEW THIS, INFORMED TWICE IS BETTER THAT NOT AT ALL. 

SUSIE 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

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ROGER Joseph MOSCONE (Class 20, Coronado)

by Franklin Anderson (Class 18, Coronado)

 

Roger Moscone was born in Quincy, Mass on 16 April l931, and joined the Navy in l947 at the age of l7. One of his first assignments was on the Battleship Mississippi.   He was a Boatswain Mate and learned everything within his grasp.  He also learned that he was cut out for bigger and better things and applied for Underwater Demolition Team Training (UDTRA) in l958 and was part of Class 20. 

 

Upon Graduation from UDTRA, He was assigned to UDT-12.   He served in many varied capacities in UDT-12, mostly as the team cartographer.  On January 18, l965 he volunteered and reported for duty with SEAL Team ONE.   Roger was later selected to be a part of Detachment GOLF for deployment to the RSSZ in Vietnam.   This Detachment was on a trial basis and they were told, "if they did not perform Seal's would no longer be required by COMNAVFORV".   Under the guidance of LT. Maynard Weyers the Detachment immediately conducted extensive operations and were highly successful.   They also realized that they needed some fortified means of transportation.   It was Roger that oversaw the refurbishing of an LCM into the "Mighty Moe".   The Mighty Moe was used for transportation, insertions and extractions of the Squads.   These operations were highly successful, but on the l9th. Of August l966, one squad under the command of LT Tom Truxall with Billy Machen as Point man encountered an ambush.   Billy Machen at the risk of his own life triggered the ambush saving the rest of the squad.  The squad conducted a fierce firefight to recover Billy's body-Starting a tradition that no SEAL is left behind.   Roger carried Billy back thru the Jungle to the LCM that was coxswained by PO Rauch.   For this action Roger received the Bronze star.

 

Roger was quickly becoming a legend among the sailors at Nha Be.  One sailor, Jim Dickson said, "when I first met him he was wearing a black T shirt and his biceps were larger than my thigh.   The men said that they needed somebody that big to keep the SEAL'S shaped up" Jim volunteered for duty on the Might Moe and was seriously wounded when it was hit with Mortars and heavy bombardment.   When Jim regained consciousness the first thing he recalled was Roger standing over him working on him-He credits Roger with saving his life. Roger was a mother hen for the men, always providing encouragement and doing most of the cooking of the SEARATS, his favorite ingredient was MEXI-PEP Hot Sauce.   His favorite saying during times of stress were "How Sweet it is".

 

Detachment Golf paved the way for many SEALS to come, and provided the infrastructure for future SEAL Operations.     Roger and the group returned to the Strand and Roger was assigned as the CMAA of SEAL Team ONE.   He was instrumental indoctrinating the new men reporting on board.   He did not mince words and told them that they should keep their ears and eyes open and their mouths shut and if they were to survive in the Teams.   Roger was highly instrumental in helping with the instruction and training and was always a source of accurate information and guidance to the men in the Teams.  Roger made numerous deployments to Vietnam.

 

In l970 Roger was advanced to CWO-1.   Upon making CWO-1 he had to transfer out of the Team and accepted a billet at UnderwaterSwimSchool, and later served with SEAL Team TWO, and retired in l973 as a CWO-2.  Roger was a very talented man and was successful in any endeavor he under took.  He sold real estate, refurbished houses and later was an Able Bodied Seaman for Exxon. 

 

Roger is survived by his much loved wife Sandra Rauch Moscone, his step-daughter Brandi, 3 daughters and a son from his first marriage, Michele, Christina, Teresa and son David, and four grandchildren Rachael, Ryan, Halley and Gianna.

 

Roger will be missed at the Reunions, as he was a fixture and a volunteer.  However, we are sure that there is a BIG REUNION up above and those Pearly Gates are wide open with a party of his Teammates, as Roger did like to Party.

 

The memorial service for Roger will be held at 1:00 p.m. on  23 March 2007 at the Naval Amphibious Base Chapel in Coronado, CA.  A celebration of Roger's Life will be held immediately following the service at the Fleet Reserve located at 667 Silver Strand Boulevard, Imperial Beach, CA.  Friends and teammates are encouraged to attend.  Those wishing to honor Roger at the memorial service or the Fleet Reserve, please contact Susie Rauch (susierauch@aol.com).

 

Donations in Roger's name may be made to the Naval Special Warfare Foundation (Scholarship Fund), P.O. Box 5965, Virginia Beach, VA23471 or the San Diego Hospice, 4311 3rd Avenue, San Diego, CA92103.  Please note that the donation is made in honor of Roger Moscone.

 

Condolences may be sent to Mrs. Sandra Moscone 757 Emory Street, PMB 546 Imperial Beach, CA 91932

 

JOHN Paul McGRAW, Sr. (S&R 6)

 

A respected educator, mentor and coach to many, a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather died September, 9th, he was 86 years old.  He was a resident of the Louisiana War Veterans Home in Jackson, Louisiana.

 

He was born on July 14, 1920 in Baton Rouge.  A graduate of Baton Rouge High School John obtained his B.A. Degree from SLI, and Master's Degree from LSU.  He began his educational career teaching primarily History.  He also coached sports in St. Mary Parish and Iberia Parish.  He was promoted to Principal of New Iberia High School, and then served as Assistant Superintendent of Iberia Parish in 1968.  He retired in 1978.

 

He was a veteran of World War II, serving as a Navy Lieutenant.  Before the designation of modern day special forces known as the Navy Seals, John was one of the original, never before attempted small corps of skilled fighting men, called the U.S. Navy Underwater Demolition Team - The Frogmen of WW II.  John was honored with a Silver Star for gallantry in the invasion of Okinawa in March 1945, and multiple other declarations for bravery and service.  He served in UDT 17

 

The family will receive visitors at the Louisiana War Veterans Home in Jackson Louisiana from 10am till 11am with funeral services at 11am, conducted by Rev. Mark Crosby.  Interment will be at the Garden of Peace, Evergreen Memorial Park in Denham Springs, Louisiana at 2pm. He is survived by three children:  daughter- Joanne Guillory, Plano, Texas; son-John Paul McGraw, Jr., Denham Springs, and son-Sidney F. McGraw, Houston, Texas; a brother, O.M. (Buddy) Pourciau, Baton Rouge; a sister L. Carol (Doll) Pourciau Hopper, New Orleans; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

 

He was preceded in death by his wife of 30 years, Flora McGraw; his parents Sidney Joseph and Lillian McGraw; and brothers, Sidney Joseph McGraw and Frank A. McGraw; and a sister Florence (Sis) McGraw Evans.

 

Memorial donations may be sent to The First Methodist Church of Baton
Rouge, 930 North Blvd., Baton Rouge, 70802 or to the American Diabetes
Association, PO Box 1131, Fairfax, Va.22038

                         I do not have a photo of him:   Doc Riojas

 

http://www.navyfrogmen.com/RogerMoscone.htm

 

 

                                    

                                
                   Ken Taylor                                      Scott Voss                         Jim  Jones

               

                                 &nb sp;                       Class 10  src="https://www.sealtwo.org/photos02/class10_small.jpg" width="100" border="2">submitted by: John D. Bartleson Jr EOD

 

Bob"Eagle" Gallagher, Don Zub, Jim "Patches" Watson in Fort Pierce FL, at the Pointman's Castle

 

                                     

 

 

 

                                                          

 

 


      I cropped out their Legs because of their ugly vericose veins:  Doc Riojas

 

 

 

                   

 

                                                 

 

                       

 

                             

 

                                                               

                                             

                                            Capt. Norman Olson (SEAL)  "The Sky Fossil"

\

 

 

     Guest Speaker MCPO of SpecWarGru Clell Braining

 

                 2006facesuwss.jpg (186870 bytes)     click to enlarge   keywest2006may.jpg (781179 bytes) F.O. UWSS reunion Key West Fl  May 2006

                                 


                                  Mark Metherell                                                                             

   

 

 Teammate 'Leaping Larry' LePage R.I.P.                               

       Teammate 'Leaping Larry' LePage R.I.P.

     
                           
                                           Master Diver MCPO Joe Bates

From: John Roberts doubleknitkid [at] yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2008
To: Teamates & Friends
Subject: CPO Larry LePage 

Teammates and Friends, 

Our old friend and Teammate 'Leaping Larry' LePage passed away a little over two months ago. I had the pleasure of knowing him for many years, from our time in the Teams on the Silver Strand in the late '60's up until recently in Louisiana. 

For the last dozen years or so I was his unofficial 'Duty Driver' there on the Westbank. Though Larry could be a bit of a pain in the ass at times, as many of you know, he was a good guy at heart, and I recall our many escapades and adventures with much affection. During his final illness I was out of the country, and another good friend of many years, both of mine and Larry's, stepped in to render all the assistance he possibly could to a dying Shipmate. 

Joe Bates was with Larry nearly every day from the time he learned of his illness right up to the time he passed away, and at the request of Larry's daughters, took possession of Larry's remains after cremation. 

I had the honor of taking possession of Larry's ashes from this fine friend, CPO and Master Diver Joe Bates, and I brought them with me to San Diego to return to his family. Friends of Larry's signed the attached letter I have just sent to CPO Bates in appreciation of his noble service to a Shipmate. 

I also include photos of when I took possession from Joe, and of where his ashes rested at Rat Miller's in Texas until the two of us brought Larry the rest of the way home, home to the Silver Strand where he spent the best years of his life. 

I was able to talk to many of Larry's friends while in San Diego, friends from his Class #19, from Team 11 and SEAL Team 1. 

Without exception they all remembered Larry fondly and every one had some sort of story to tell and every Man Jack of them considered Larry to have been a good operator. His awards received in the heat of combat in Viet Nam also attest to this. No SEAL could ask for a better epitaph. 

Larry had many friends in the New Orleans area as well, friends from the days after his retirement from the Navy when he was a Diving Supervisor for Taylor Diving & Salvage, and in the years after that when he was a Diving Consultant and Welding Inspector. Three of the best of these who did many favors for Larry, especially after his stroke, were Mike Large, Rocky Mandible and Butch Jones. SEAL Roy Grey also was a part of this group prior to his death. 

Farewell Larry, you were an ornery old SOB but we loved you and you were a damn fine Teammate as well. 

Rest in Peace, 
John Roberts

 

 

 

Doc Riojas, A friend sent this to me today.    FYI. 

Captain Larry Bailey  (SEAL) USN Retired

From: Karl & Karla Crowder
To: Bailey, Larry Bailey
Sent: Friday, October 10, 2008
Subject: "The Silver Fox, "moose" Boitnott, US Navy SEAL 

Larry, 

Last week I was up in Virginia visiting one of my High School class mates and he was showing me around New Castle (a little north of Roanoke) where he has built a Chalet in the mountains. He took me over to Jackie Boitnott's place who was moving out of the mountains since her husband died last year and she couldn't keep up the place alone. 

We were talking and I found out that he had been a Navy SEAL during the 60's. I felt that you may have known him, so my friend Tommy Palmer gave me a copy of the local newspaper article about his death. Attached is the article as best I can scan it in from the copy I was given. 

I have been to Virginia several times since I last saw you. We have a house in Wytheville (my mother and father's old home place) that we have been renting for years since my mothers death back in 1996. The tenant will be moving out Nov. 1, 

So I will have to go back up then. Karla and I will be going to Jacksonville, FL in a couple of weeks to go to her High School Class' 50th reunion. That should be a ball since her class seems to be a party group. We will keep you in our plans for sometime in the future. In the meantime have a good day! 

Karl Crowder                                        


                          Eric Greitens


go to www.sealtwo.org/sealswinlose.htm for full article on Mark Robbins.


                                     Doug Santo

                        
                                                            left to right they are: CDR Jason Washabaugh, Leonard Kunz, Myself and Adm. George Worthington

       
                                                     Puerto Rico:   SDV Frogmen:  Jim and Karen Allgeier sent this info of this platoon   Back row L to R:   Scotty Slaughter, unknown, Frank Wysocki, unknown, unknown, Bob Auger, Lt. Clark on end?   Front Row L to R: Skinny Andy Anderson, Ed Schmidt, Bobby Putman, Chris Kellas, Chuck "Upchuck"?, unknown, Dale Bright?  

      
                           R.L. Crossland

U.S. Halted Some Afghan Raids Over Concern On Civilian Deaths

The New York Times WASHINGTON
By Mark Mazzetti and Eric SchmittCarter DoughertyAndrew Pollack
March 10, 2009

http://tech.mit.edu/V129/N11/shorts1.html

The commander of a secretive branch of America’s Special Operations forces in February ordered a halt to most commando missions in Afghanistan, reflecting a growing concern that civilian deaths caused by U.S. firepower are jeopardizing broader goals there.

The halt, which lasted about two weeks, came after a series of nighttime raids by Special Operations troops in recent months killed women and children, and after months of mounting outrage in Afghanistan about civilians killed in air and ground strikes. The order covered all commando missions except those against the highest-ranking leaders of the Taliban and al-Qaida, military officials said.

U.S. commanders in Afghanistan rely on the commando units to carry out some of the most delicate operations against militant leaders, and the missions of the Army’s Delta Force and classified Navy Seals units are never publicly acknowledged. But the units sometimes carry out dozens of operations each week, so any decision to halt their missions is a sign of just how worried military officials are that the fallout from civilian casualties is putting in peril the overall U.S. mission in Afghanistan, including an effort to drain the Taliban of popular support.

 

 


  Homer "Doc" Marshall, "Doc" Williams, Ted Kassa       

                 

                   


MCPO Shipley, CEO, Extreme SEAL Experience

    

 

                                 

         

Alan Routh  ST-1

      

 

       ----- Original Message -----
From: Alan Routh
To: doc rio
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 9:41 AM
Subject: VN '63 - The Dirty Work 

Doc Rio- 

This picture was taken in the Delta in late '62 or early '63. I'm in left foreground (as a "frocked" LT) -- with the shades and the then-designated AR-15. 

Jesse Tolison (note: only one "l"), then of ST-2, is immediately behind me. Next to Jesse, with the weapon, is LT. Ninh, (worthless) OinC of the Biet Hai group that we were "training". Next to me was one of our "top trainees" - I don't recall his name but he was #1! Next to him was U.S. Army Ranger, who was Provincial Advisor in the Delta -- and above him was his #1. 

I still have the flag. 

Al Routh

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Patches Watson

 

 

JOSE TAYLOR (SEAL) RIP      aka: Lloyd Favor Taylor

 

                                   

 

   SEALTWO.ORG      

 

 

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Mi Vida Loca - Copyright ©1998 - All Right Reserved       Webmaster:  Erasmo "Doc" Riojas        email:   docrio45@gmail.com     

 

 

 


THE INDOMITABLE PATRIOT  Fertig, The Guerrilla General

One of our guys, although he had the misfortune of going Army instead of Navy, has become a writer in
his old age. His first few books were about the paranormal... he likes to chase ghosts in his spare time. But his latest
endeavor; Wow! He has started a new series of books he calls Behind the Lines. His first book, recently completed and
published is titled “THE INDOMITABLE PATRIOT: Fertig, the Guerrilla General.” It’s a historically correct novel about Wendell Fertig in the Philippines in World War II.  Here’s what the book looks like. 
Cover Final :
May, 1942. General Wainwright has just surrendered the Philippines. Wendell Fertig, a Corps of Engineers Lieutenant Colonel, refuses to comply and flees into the mountains of Mindanao. Fertig is soon
joined by dozens of former Philippino Army scouts who encourage him to form a guerrilla Army. Over the next few months Fertig is joined by several other displaced American soldiers, one of whom builds a small, makeshift transmitter and establishes contact with the Navy. 
General MacArthur denounces Fertig, going on record claiming it’s impossible for a guerrilla movement in the Philippines to succeed. The O.S.S. decide to take a chance and covertly supplies Fertig by submarine. Once he receives the tools to wage war, his achievements become legendary. By the time MacArthur returns to the Philippines in 1944 he is met on the beach at Leyte by a force of over twenty thousand of Fertig’s guerrilla Army. 

This fictional accounting is based upon the actual military records and reports of one man’s impossible achievements against overwhelming odds; against an enemy who outnumbered him a hundred to one. Wendell Fertig, a civil engineer and untrained amateur in the ways of war, defied the predictions of the experts and brought the Japanese Army to its knees. Enjoy this first installment in the new Behind The Lines series of combat thrillers based upon historical records.


The book is available from Amazon in either print or Kindle versions, or by special order from almost any book retailer.
(He’s not Tom Clancy yet. They don’t stock his books but they can order them). These links will take you to the Amazon listings. If you look at the Kindle listing there is a Look Inside feature that lets you read through the first chapter. 
Print: 
http://www.amazon.com/Indomitable-Patriot-Fertig-Guerrilla-General/dp/
1512025623/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431972445&sr=8-1&keywords=the+indomitable+patriot 


Kindle: 
http://www.amazon.com/Indomitable-
Patriot-Fertig-Guerrilla-General-ebook/dp/B00XUSX4RU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1432050603&sr=
1-1&keywords=the+indomitable+patriot
 

About the Author     Carl’s professional career began as an Army and then FAA air traffic controller. He advanced from a small radar van in the Central Highlands of Vietnam to the TRACON in one of our nation’s busiest airports. He also became a commercial pilot and flight instructor, retiring after thirty-nine years of flying. By 1986 he was experiencing severe burnout. He put himself through the police academy, resigned from the FAA and became a deputy Sheriff in Reno, Nevada. He retired after a distinguished career on the street. Not only the cop on the beat, Carl became a renowned traffic accident reconstructionist on his departments Major Accident Investigation Team, as well as a highly acclaimed crime scene investigator. Throughout his life Carl has been a student of the paranormal and often experienced the effects of the supernatural in his personal life. In 2012 he became involved in the saga of the haunted Allen House in Monticello, Arkansas and its resident spirit, Ladell Allen Bonner. The result of dozens upon dozens of paranormal interactions with Ladell led Carl to write his first book about Ladell’s life and death. Writing that first book sparked a latent avocation in his life: writing. Carl has always been a connoisseur of military history, and that interest began a new direction for his writing. This latest book is the story of Wendell Fertig, and the beginning of a thrilling new series, 'Behind The Lines.' While the stories are fictionalized, they are all based upon factual military history. Join in with Carl and enjoy his books as you gain an interesting new insight in what war is all about.

The following is typical of the reviews I’m receiving on the book: 


Just finished your book and you get 4.0 marks from this old Navy Seal. Really enjoyed and it adds to my hobby of WWII.
Spent 22 years of my 34 in and out of the PI. Have traveled every island and was trained a marksman by RJ when we were
stationed at Team 2 during Vietnam. Still a very good friend I keep in contact with. Going to recommend it to my friends,
at least the ones that can read.

 THE INDOMITABLE PATRIOT  Fertig, The Guerrilla General

Doc Riojas Comment:  Once i started reading this book, i have find myself hard to putting it down! because of my very old age (84 yr old eyes and at the end of being able to correct my vision) I find that the way  the paragraphs are other important text are spaced to be extremly easy to read.

Having retired from the Navy and traveled to that part of the orient reminds me of my days as a guerrilla combatant as part of the Navy SPecial Warfare serving as a Navy SEAL in the Jungles of Vietnam.

The author is equally as good a military writter as Tom Clancy.  This story may possibly be material for a great movie similar to the the movie produced about the POW rescue in WWII by Filipino Guerilla fighters and the U.S. Army Rangers.  "The Great Raid"

Do not wait to buy it tomorrow, order it today !  It was recommended to me by CDR R.D. Thomas (recommended for the Medal of Honor by the US Army, but our politically correct US Navy downgraded it to a Navy Cross. SHame on them !

Carl McLelland, USMC Pilot: the author’s father