Together We Served
http://www.togetherweserved.com/

William H. (Bill) Simpson

William H. (Bill) Simpson was born in Laredo, Texas,on June 1, 1934, where he
received his primary and secondary education. After attending Texas A&M for
one year, he received an appointment to the US Naval Academy, Annapolis,
Maryland, from which he graduated on June 1, 1956,with a Bachelor of Science
degree in Electrical Engineering. During the next four and a half years,
Bill served aboard the USS Phillippine Sea (CVS-47), as an Engineering
Officer, and the USS Dash (MSO-428), as Executive Officer. In Dec. 1960, after
being impressed by his understanding of God's leadership in his ife, he
resigned his commission in the US Navy and entered Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary , Ft. Worth. Tx., in Jan. 1961, from which he graduated with
a Master of Divinity degree.

After being the pastor of three churches in Texas and Arkansas, he
completed a year of Clinical Pastoral Education at the Baptist Memorial Hospital
System, San Antonio, Tx., on Oct. 6, 1975. He served there until his
retirement on May 30,1997. In 1978 he was certified as a Fellow in the College of
Chaplains.

During his 22 years as Chaplain, he was active in the Institutional Ethics
Committee, and served as co-facilitator on Cancer and Grief Support
Groups. His ministry also included leading seminars on end-of-life issues. Upon
retirement, he became Parish Associate, Northwood Presbyterian Church. He
also became a Director of The Samaritan Counseling Center, and the San
Antonio Eye Bank. After serving each organization for four years, he resigned
as a director. Bill is married to the former Gerry Forrer of Baltimore, Md.,
and they have two children, Norman and Meredith, and one grandson, Desmond.

Dick Young

What do you look for in a person when building a team?

I like to deal with people who have a degree of humility about themselves and who express themselves with a quiet confidence. I don't like a whole lot of high-fiving in the end zone or when people overstate and under-deliver. I like people who can understate and over-deliver. The great military men and women I've been around have had a great degree of humility in them even though they are great Americans that accomplished great things.

John Morgan, senior global strategist, Toffler Associates; said that !

http://sealtwo.org/togetherserved

SSGT Bruce Cullen USMC

Doc

That's from spending to much time in the goat locker...LOL Alright let me ID those for you. Use your best judgment Doc. Again I think I have some UDT pictures or may not have any I really can't remember I know I have some of us working the Mike boats in the Dominican Republic..So let me pull out the old seabag. Best...To you my friend,

bruce cullen

LT. R.W.Peterson USNavy SEAL

DOc, Still kickin ass after all these years. The one in civilian cloths was taken at my bunker this year. The other posed shot was taken at Camp Pendleton in 1968-9 I was E4 then and on my way to PI for school then RVN.

Hey if you ever get to San Antonio Stop in at the Drop Zone Café it’s owned by Hope & Ed Fernandez. My picture is on the wall. I am a life member of the “Alamo Silver Wings Airborne Association”

Email: Bruce Cullen [at] charter DOT net

James W. "Doc" Myers, (1941 - 2010)

October 25, 1941 - July 29, 2010
James W. Myers, 68, of Edgerton, passed away on Thursday, July 29, 2010, at his home with his loving family by his side. He was born on Oct. 25, 1941, in Edgerton, son of the late Donald and Bernadine (Holmes) Myers. He was united in marriage on July 14, 1988, to Joan Dallman in Lake Tahoe, NV. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Edgerton.

He retired from the Navy after 20 years of service in Special Warfare. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, Kayaking, taking his dog for rides and watching Jeopardy. He was a life member of the V.F.W., the Military Order of The Purple Heart and Vietnam Veterans. He was also a member of the Marine Corps League and the UDT/Seal Association, Knights of Columbus and past Grand Knight, a Eucharistic Minister and an Usher at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

He is survived by his loving wife of 22 years, Joan of Edgerton; two daughters, Stacy (Josh) Finn of Edgerton and Sara Lund of Janesville; two grandchildren, Madison and Brooke Finn; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Trisha; and one son, James.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010, at ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH, Edgerton, with Father David Timmerman officiating. Burial will be in the Fulton Cemetery. Friends may call on Monday, Aug. 2, 2010, at the EHLERT FUNERAL HOME, (US HWY 51 S) Edgerton from 4 until 7 p.m. and at the CHURCH on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Full Military services will be held at the Cemetery by the Edgerton Memorial Squad.

http://gazettextra.com/obits/2010/aug/01/james-myers/

Pepe Lopez

"Temo" Rocha David Riojas JR.(my nephew's son) Chris Tolentino (nephew)

Daniel Guzman (Nephew)

A PRAYER FOR MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY

Father in Heaven, watch over America's sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers and mothers, in their hour of peril. Bring them home safely to their loved ones. Wrap your loving arms around the wounded, and bring to your side the ones who have lost their lives. Let their loved ones know peace of mind from the pain of having lost those who were so dear to them. Let their children learn wisdom as they grow up without their mothers and fathers. Amen

click on graphic

Dear Members of the NavySEALs.com Community ,

September 11, 2001 was a day of great sacrifice for Americans.

No group has better understood that, nor has acted in such a manner as to make that sacrifice a more meaningful page in our nation's history, than the United States Navy SEALs. The SEALs have taken the fight to the enemy with extraordinary result. But their success has not been without cost.

More SEALs have made the ultimate sacrifice in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom than in any other conflict since Vietnam. Please join me in honoring the memories of Naval Special Warfare's fallen heroes in the Global War on Terror.

http://www.sealtwo.org/memorialkiaseals.htm

Keep their families in your thoughts. And let their examples of selflessness and sacrifice be an inspiration in your own lives.

Kind regards,

Mark Divine
Founder and CEO
BUD/S 170

Norman K. Ott, Jr.
1931 - 2009

Ott, Jr., Norman K., 78, of St. Petersburg, died , March 25, 2009.

Born in Allentown, PA, he came here in 1988 from Vienna, Virginia. He was a graduate of Allentown High School. He was also a graduate of Lehigh University with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering as well as competing on the school swim team. He was a United States Navy veteran.
He worked for Sylvania Electric as well as Westinghouse as a Sales Engineer in Pittsburgh, PA. From 1962 to 1991 he worked as an Operations Officer for the Central Intelligence Agency conducting operations in Turkey, Africa, Vietnam, Cuba, Persian Gulf and the Near East areas. His last assignment was as the CIA Intelligence Advisor to General Schwarzkopf at CentCom Headquarters in Tampa, FL during Operation Desert Storm.

He was Protestant. In his youth, he attained the rank of Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow in the Boy Scouts. His reserve SEAL team helped train the original Mercury 7 astronauts in water landings. While serving as scout master in Istanbul, Turkey, he led an annual swim from Asia to Europe across the Bosphorus Strait.

He was an avid tennis player and worked as a league coordinator for the USTA and played in numerous leagues. He was a loving husband and father, scout master, football coach, soccer coach, basketball coach, advisor, provider and family comedian. Upon moving to St. Petersburg in 1988 and retiring in 1991, he spent his time playing with his granddaughters, sailing, playing tennis and was President of the local chapter of the UDT/SEAL Association. He is survived by wife, Ruth Ann Ott, St. Petersburg, FL.

M. SGT. RAUL PEREZ BENAVIDEZ U.S. Army
http://www.medalofhonor.com/RoyBenavidez.htm

Roy P. Benadvidez, M.O.H., Vietnam

Roy P. Benavidez & Erasmo "Doc" Riojas

MSG Roy P. Benavidez Vietnam R.I.P.

On 2 May 1968, 12 Green Berets were surrounded near Loc Ninh, South Vietnam, by an entire battalion of NVA. They were thus outnumbered, 12 men versus about 1,000. They dug in and tried to hold them off, but were not going to last long. Benavidez heard their distress call over a radio in town and boarded a rescue helicopter with first aid equipment. He did not have time to grab a weapon before the helicopter left, so he voluntarily jumped into the hot LZ armed only with his knife.

He sprinted across 75 meters of open terrain through withering small arms and machine gun fire to reach the pinned down MACV-SOG team. By the time he reached them, he had been shot 4 times, twice in the right leg, once through both cheeks, which knocked out four molars, and a glancing shot off his head.

He ignored these wounds and began administering first aid. The rescue chopper left as it was not designed to extract men. An extraction chopper was sent for, and Benavidez took command of the men by directing their fire around the edges of the clearing in order to facilitate the chopper’s landing. When the aircraft arrived, he supervised the loading of the wounded on board, while throwing smoke canisters to direct the chopper’s exact landing. He was wounded severely and at all times under heavy enemy crossfire, but still carried and dragged half of the wounded men to the chopper.

He then ran alongside the landing skids providing protective fire into the trees as the chopper moved across the LZ collecting the wounded. The enemy fire got worse, and Benavidez was hit solidly in the left shoulder. He got back up and ran to the platoon leader, dead in the open, and retrieved classified documents. He was shot in the abdomen, and a grenade detonated nearby peppering his back with shrapnel.

The chopper pilot was mortally wounded then, and his chopper crashed. Benavidez was in extremely critical condition, and still refused to fall. He ran to the wreckage and got the wounded out of the aircraft, and arranged them into a defensive perimeter to wait for the next chopper. The enemy automatic rifle fire and grenades only intensified, and Benavidez ran and crawled around the perimeter giving out water and ammunition.

The NVA was building up to wipe them out, and Benavidez called in tactical air strikes with a squawk box and threw smoke to direct the fire of arriving gunships. Just before the extraction chopper landed, he was shot again in the left thigh while giving first aid to a wounded man. He still managed to get to his feet and carry some of the men to the chopped, directing the others, when an NVA soldier rushed from the woods and clubbed him over the head with an AK-47. This caused a skull fracture and a deep gash to his left upper arm, and yet he still got back up and decapitated the soldier with one swing of his knife, severing the spine and all tissue on one side of the neck. He then resumed carrying the wounded to the chopper and returning for others, and was shot twice more in the lower back. He shot two more NVA soldiers trying to board the chopper, then made one last trip around the LZ to be sure all documents were retrieved, and finally boarded the chopper. He had lost 2 quarts of blood. Before he blacked out, he shouted to one of the other Green Berets, “Another great day to be in South Vietnam!”

This battle lasted six hours. He had been wounded 37 times.

Arron Justiss

Danny Dietz Amir Pishadad Dave Bird

Dave Phelan John barttelson Welt Doc Gary

Dave Phelan Neil Roberts

Rick Nuygen , LCDR Dentist
Joe Baimbridge (with the cane)

HOOYAH! UDT/SEAL STORIES OF THE 1960s:
Routine and Offbeat Exploits that Team Members have been Talking and Laughing about for Years
— New Second Edition!

Navy Seal Nick Nickelson (KNMF Chair!) relives brutal Hell Week that broke most men's spirits while strengthening others. Learn what SEALs go through and find out if you have what it takes. You will be surprised by who passes and who fails to make it through Hell Week, and you will laugh at preposterous situations that young Navy SEALs find themselves in.

The Book Contains:

One of the missions Nick was charged with as a UDT/SEAL was the rescue of Astronaut Gordon Cooper in the Faith 7 Landing.

Nick is standing on the right, after placing the floatation collar on the capsule. Astronaut Cooper is inside the capsule (see photo to right).

The new Second Edition of HOOYAH! includes many new stories plus all the stories from the First Edition. The Second Edition contains 43 stories and 22 photos related to Naval Special Warfare and the men who belonged to the Navy's elite UDT/SEAL teams during the 1960s. Some stories are humorous and some are not. Most of the stories relate to West Coast BUDS Training and Class-28. The remaining stories relate to specific events supported by the Teams during the 1960s. Historic events such as "The Cuban Missile Crisis", "Project Mercury: Faith 7", and "Naval Pentathlon" are but three examples. This book contains many stories that are humorous and depict the style or character of the individual capable of surviving training and life in the Teams. Other stories relate to historic events and the men from Naval Special Warfare who supported them. All stories document events Team members have been talking and laughing about for years.

The Author, Nick

Bret Lynch Jessie (Janos) Ventura

Nick Rocha (SEAL)

Dave, Susie & Morgan Tannery Gerry Flowers and Team Mate

Chris, Key West FL

Dave "Doc" Tannery Doug Taylor

                                  Mike Manello                                                   Rick Powers

Steve Anderson

T.C. Cummings Rick Blackwood Rudyh Boesch

Suh D. P. P.T. Schartz 'nam

Hershel Haynes James White C Dock Hooks

Riojas, Paul Rump Henry "Gutz" Gutierrez USMC Korea

Victoria Hotel MyTho RVN Navy Cook

                        Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller                        Cpl. Joseph Vitorri MOH Korea on Hill 749
                                                                         Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Mar.Reg., 1st Mar.Div.(Reinforced)

Minh, he looks very much alive

Liberty in Olongapo P.I. with the "LBFMs" PBR Sailors: Lowell W. Dickey

               Herschel Haynes

                               Herschel Haynes             Joseph Scho Walter

Jim "Mad Dog" Madison P.T. Schartz Robert Smith

Doc Gary Welt 340836

Capt. Jack Menendez

Dave Phelan Steve Anderson Robert Smith

michael a strenk. Gary Wignall YN2 ST1

Tommy Cox and David LeJeune

                                                                   Curt Gibby             Leon P. "Pepper" Tagle              Dan Potts
       Adm.Hyland & Capt.Paul Gray                     CDR.Thieu Ta Hiep LDNN

Jack Menendez & Jacklynne

Our Father

Alan, Kyle, Brain Kruppa Steve Waterman

Linda Hubbell, John Hobbs, Pappy Hewlitt,Mike Driscoll, ???

Lourdes Tolentino Al ALberts John Hobbs Erasmo "Doc" Riojas

Joe "Red" Coyle Bernie Campoli

Joe Kruppa Ron Douglas

Harold Christensen

Doc Riojas; I was stationed at Little Creek in SEAL Team 2 from April of 1968 to January of 1970. Worked in the operations department handling messages, and assisting wherever needed.

When i went to Vietnam, it was from Feb-Aug 1969. I think with Lt Yeaw was the platoon officer. I remember Harry Constance in the platoon, and somone named Bull. Not sure of the others.
I live in Connecticut, still employed (work at IBM), and am glad that i was able to find your website, and appreciate if you would post my pictures. Here they are:

Thank you, Harold Christensen

Harold Christensen

Picures of Harold Christensen from 1969 on deployment in Binh Thuy, Vietnam with ST2 platoon ~Feb-Aug 1969.

Doc Rio, We traded notes a while back, and you asked me to see if i had any pictures of when i was attached to the ST2. As i searched some of my old antique boxes of memorabilia i did find some that i am attaching to this note. All three are from Binh Thuy, during the period Feb-Aug 1969. A long time ago. Take care, and i hope all is well with you. Harold CHristensen

Harold Christensen pointing to sign: OIC NSAD, Binh Thuy ; I do not know those two guys at the window.

Harold Christensen and family

Hi Doc Rio,

I can’t remember if we’ve ever bumped into one another at the reunion beer truck (Little Creek) over the years, but I was looking for information on the Gulf Coast Chapter (South Carolina in that one?) and ran across your website.

Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed perusing the photos. A couple of the Afghanistan heroes were my platoon mates at one time when I was their platoon Chief at ST-8. They sure made us proud, along with all our other fallen brothers.

Seal Two was my first Team after jump school in 1986 and I got the real deal “welcome aboard”. I don’t know how, what seemed like the whole Team mustered on the Quarter Deck, happened so quickly, but it was quite a surprise to get stripped, pink bellied, thrown off the pier, and told to check the watch bill so fast.

So, after us FNGs learned proper “Welcome Aboard” and Team “check in” procedures, my Teammates and I carried on tradition in fine form, striving to outdo one another with deviant games and “pays to be a winner” competitions, always vigilant to spot a trio of FNG’s in starched cammies, holding a manila envelope with their boots shined, standing around out front or on the Quarterdeck.

Later on as a platoon Chief, I even had the boys paint two sets of FNG (mandatory on the check in sheet) footprints in our platoon hut so they could get to know the new guys out of sight of the XO.

Anyway, Cheers mate!! Enjoy the photo, I took it at the ST-10 QD last Feb when I went to Koch & Hardy’s memorial svc.

Steve Messer, ENCS(SEAL) – USN RET

BUD/S 140, ST-2, ST-6, ST-8, SERE, NSWC Det Hurlburt

Assistant Training Director Government Training Institute (GTI)

1349 Locust Ave Denmark, SC 29042 Phone: 208-608-3983 Fax: 803-793-0060 email: steve [at] gtitraining.org Web: www.gtitraining.org

webmaster's NOTE: Thank you Steve. You remined me of the my experience as a FNG at ST-2. I was welcomed by Rudy Boesch at the quarterdeck. He said, "welcome aboard, don't unpack your bag, you will be going to Ranger School monday and you got the weekend watch." Doc Riojas

BlackHawk Hires Director

Stephen “Mato” Matulewicz

Stephen "Mato" Matulewicz will assume the new position of Executive Director of Operations for BLACKHAWK!

Command Master Chief (SEAL) Stephen Matulewicz retired with distinction from the US Navy after serving for 23 years.He has been a member SEAL Team TWO, SEAL Team FOUR and SEAL Team SIX. Matulewicz retired from the United States Navy with the rank of command master chief. A Navy SEAL since 1985, he served in Afghanistan and Iraq. His personal decorations include the Bronze Star.

He also served as a Master Chief of the Research and Development team at the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG) and served as the Ninth Command Master Chief of SEAL Team TWO in Little Creek, VA.

Stephen “Mato” Matulewicz will assume the new position of Executive Director of Operations for BLACKHAWK! In this new position, Mr. Matulewicz will manage the day-to-day operations across all functional business groups, which include four US facilities and a sales and marketing organization supporting more than 2500 dealers world wide. Mato’s demonstrated leadership abilities and his intimate knowledge of the core business processes within BLACKHAWK! and their customer base uniquely qualify him for this position. Prior to his new position, he has served as BLACKHAWK!’s Director of Special Operations Business Development since 2006.

2004 FO/UWSS Photos

Webmaster el_ticitl@yahoo.com

Four old retired GIs are walking down a street in Ft Lauderdale, Florida. They turned a corner and see a sign that says, "Old Timers' Bar - all drinks 10 cents."
They look at each other, and then go in, thinking this is too good to be true.
The old bartender says in a voice that carries across the room, "Come on in and let me pour one for you! What'll it be, Gentlemen?"
There seemed to be a fully-stocked bar, so each of the men ask for a martini.
In short order, the bartender serves up four iced martinis... Shaken, not stirred, and says, "That'll be 10 cents each, please."
The four men stare at the bartender for a moment, then look at each other...

They can't believe their good luck. They pay the 40 cents, finish their martinis, and order another round.
Again, four excellent martinis are produced with the bartender again saying "That's 40 cents, please"
They pay the 40 cents, but their curiosity is more than they can stand.
They have each had two martinis, and so far they've spent less than a dollar.
Finally one of the men says, "How can you afford to serve martinis as good as these for a dime apiece?"
"I'm a retired GI from Boston," the bartender said, "and I always wanted to own a bar. Last year I hit the Lottery for $25 million and decided to open this place. Every drink costs a dime - wine, liquor, beer, it's all the same."

Wow!!!! That's quite a story," says one of the men. The four of them sipped at their martinis and couldn't help but notice three other guys at the end of the bar who didn't have drinks in front of them, and hadn't ordered anything the whole time they were there.
One man gestures at the three at the end of the bar without drinks and asks the bartender, "What's with them?"
The bartender says, "Oh, they're retired Navy Chiefs. They're waiting for happy hour when drinks are half price."

Admiral Elmo Russell Zumwalt, Jr., USN

Z-grams
Photographs of Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr.
Biographical Summary

Full Name: Elmo Russell Zumwalt, Jr.
Date of Birth: 29 November 1920
Date of Death: 2 January 2000
Prominent Assignments:
Nominated on 14 April 1970 by President Nixon to serve as Chief of Naval Operations. Became CNO with rank of Admiral from 1 July 1970 to 1 July 1974.
Served as Commander U. S. Naval Forces, Vietnam and Chief of the Naval Advisory Group, U. S. Military Assistance Command , Vietnam , from 1 October 1968 to 15 May 1970.
As Director of the Chief of Naval Operations Systems Analysis Group from August 1966 to August 1968, he organized and directed the Systems Analysis Division and served as Deputy Scientific Officer to the Center for Naval Analyses.
Served as Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla SEVEN from July 1965 to July 1966.
Education: Elmo Russell Zumwalt, Jr.
Date of Birth: 29 November 1920
Date of Death: 2 January 2000
Prominent Assignments:
Nominated on 14 April 1970 by President Nixon to serve as Chief of Naval Operations. Became CNO with rank of Admiral from 1 July 1970 to 1 July 1974.
Served as Commander U. S. Naval Forces, Vietnam and Chief of the Naval Advisory Group, U. S. Military Assistance Command , Vietnam , from 1 October 1968 to 15 May 1970.
As Director of the Chief of Naval Operations Systems Analysis Group from August 1966 to August 1968, he organized and directed the Systems Analysis Division and served as Deputy Scientific Officer to the Center for Naval Analyses.
Served as Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla SEVEN from July 1965 to July 1966.
Education:

1939	Valedictorian of Tulare High School , Tulare , CA
1939	Rutherford Preparatory School , Long Beach , CA
1942	Cum Laude Graduate of U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis , MD
1953	Naval War College , Newport , RI
1962	National War College , Washington , DC

Other Highlights:
Eagle Scout.
Served as Commanding Officer of the first ship built from the keel up as a guided-missile ship USS Dewey (DLG-14)Was prize crew officer of captured Japanese gunboat Ataka, captured at mouth of Yangtze River near end of WW II.
At age 44, the youngest naval officer ever promoted to Rear Admiral.
At age 49, the youngest four-star Admiral in U. S. naval history, and the youngest to serve as Chief of Naval Operations.

Larry Lyons (click on photo to see Mike & Connie Baumgart) DeLaFlor

SEALs for Christ Web Site

A. "Nasty" Nash Hofelich family

Robert C. Machen emails SeaStory

-----Original Message-----
From: Erasmo "Doc" Riojas [mailto:elticitl@mi-vida-loca.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2001
To: Machen,Robert C
Subject: thank you

you must be having a senior citizen moment. Bob, you signed the ASR-ARS Assn guest book.

I am the webmaster for the asrarsassn.org erasmo doc riojas go to: www.mi-vida-loca.com and see about me.
doc riojas class 4/55 DSDS i am also a Navy (SEAL) usn Retired.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Machen,Robert C" <rmachen [at] mwdh2o.com>
To: "'Erasmo "Doc" Riojas'" <elticitl@mi-vida-loca.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2001
Subject: RE: thank you

Could you take a minute to identify yourself, and what your background is? Thanks,

Bob

----- Original Message -----
From: "Machen,Robert C" <rmachen [at] mwdh2o.com>
To: "'Erasmo "Doc" Riojas'" <elticitl@mi-vida-loca.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2001
Subject: RE: thank you
BOB,

I was on ASR-8, ASR-20, AS-11, AS-19, AS-33, and all diving billits in my naval career. I became a SEAL in 1966, but we got demolition pay and parachute jumping pay, no diving pay but we did a lot of SCUBA diving.

I made two trips on the USS SEALION for sub lockouts down in FL for practice and the real thing down in south America.

being troops on a boat was great, we had open galley, and were allowed to go topside on calm days. Boy did that piss the crew off.
Doc Riojas

----- Original Message -----
From: "Machen,Robert C" <rmachen [at] mwdh2o.com>
To: "'Erasmo "Doc" Riojas'" <elticitl@mi-vida-loca.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 11,
Subject: RE: thank you

Sorry, didn't make the association. Navy Seal eh? My respects, Sir!

-----Original Message-----
From: Erasmo "Doc" Riojas [mailto:elticitl@mi-vida-loca.com]
Sent: Monday, October 08, 2001
To: rcjcmachen [at] aol.com
Subject: thank you

R. Machen, you wanna share some of your navy experiences? I'll post them on the web site maybe some of your old buddies will see it and respond to you. thank you, spread the word about the web site. tu amigo, doc riojas

-----Original Message-----
From: Erasmo "Doc" Riojas
Sent: Thursday, October 11,
To: Machen,Robert C
Subject: Re: thank you

hehehheheheh, do you have any pictures or stories from your diving ship history to contribute to the web site?
visiit it again at: http://www.asrarsassn.org/index.html

thank you very much
doc rio

-----Original Message -----
From: "Machen,Robert C" <rmachen@mwdh2o.com>
To: "'Erasmo "Doc" Riojas'"
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2001
Subject: RE: thank you

Hi Doc, while I was aboard Corporal (no idea what year) we operated with Sea Lion, making practice deposits along the coast of southern Puerto Rico. We carried some troops, but had none of the other abilities of Sea Lion. Our troops had their rafts stored in the superstructure, and lived a very cramped life, as we had no extra berthing. Fortunately they didn't stay aboard over about 2 days at a time. We were prepared to put teams into Cuba as well, but instead took part in the "blockade". I gotta tell ya, I always respected those guys, and for the most part I think they appreciated what we did for them. I've read of submarine skippers that put their crews, and boats, in harms way to ensure they never left a single man in peril. No doubt in my mind that we were part of the greatest Navy on earth. I'm proud to have been a part of it.

Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: Erasmo "Doc" Riojas [mailto:elticitl@mi-vida-loca.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2001
To: Machen,Robert C
Subject: Re: thank you

thank you Robert, great sea stories.

i sure would like a copy of that torpedo and maybe a little story?

thanks doc riojas
tu amigo doc rio

----- Original Message -----
From: "Machen,Robert C" <rmachen@mwdh2o.com>
To: "'Erasmo "Doc" Riojas'" <elticitl@mi-vida-loca.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2001
Subject: RE: thank you

I have a couple of pics of 2 of the boats I served on, which you would be welcome to. Funny how it worked back then, I had 4 kids, and couldn't afford a camera, or much of anything else either. I'm sure you recall that we didn't make near the money they do today. My kid made more money for sea pay, than I did as EM2(SS). And he didn't hot bunk or stand port and starboard watches!

Stories? Well yeah, we all have stories. My problem is that they are getting pretty dim, and everything is beginning to run together. You know, things like which boat was that on?, which ocean were we in?, who did what to whom?, etc. I recall picking an aircrew out of the sea, but can't recall which boat, or when. All I remember is that they wanted off that stinkin' submarine at the earliest possible time. Hell NO!......they weren't interested in going to Bermuda with us, get us OFFA here! Buncha pussies!

I remember getting a practice ASROC stuck in our sail, during fleet exercises with some tin cans, but don't remember the details, except that it hit our main induction, and caused some flooding in the boat.

I remember operating with Enterprise in the Med, in 64, and landing a smoke flare on their flight deck. We were supposed to fire a flare when our Skipper had reached a torpedo firing solution. He tracked them, got inside their air cover, outwitted their destroyer escorts and the Skipper got a good shot at them. So we fired the flare, the wind caught it and it landed on their airplane floor. Guess that pissed 'em off! We got reassigned that same night.

Another thing I remember was when our Cap'n made full Commander. We got the word when we pulled in to St. Thomas, V.I. We were tied up across the pier from some Gator boat, full of Jarheads. CO came up the forward room hatch, decked out in full dress whites, with sword, going to some big shit meeting with other ranking officers. His crew met him topside, and promptly threw his ass over the side. A congratulatory ceremony for us "bubbleheads", and the Skipper accepted it as such. Never lost his composure and even managed to throw his hat back on deck before he hit the water. Seems the duty officer up on the gator boat, saw this happen, and sent a squad of Marines over to help the Skipper control his mutinying crew. We had the skipper back on board by the time they got there, and he was some kinda pissed. Not at us, but at the skimmer duty officer. He explained it real plain to the ensign that he didn't need any #^$(()6$@^* help. He was having a party with his crew, and get his $#%%^%$&* Jarheads off our boat!!

As I recall, I was on a boat in company with Thresher, when she went down, in 63. We were her surface contact, and our sonarman is the one who initially made the call she was in trouble. Details of that are real hazy. The SO was a guy named Paul Waters. He is mentioned in the book Blind Man's Bluff, as a Chief Sonarman. He was SO2 when I knew him.

I'm sure there's other stories that come up, but like I said, it's getting hard to sort them out. I recently visited with some of the guys I served with, and our wives got sea sick, or tired of the smell of BS, maybe. But we had a great time reminiscing the old days. Your Sec/Treas, Charley Micele, is an old friend and shipmate, from USS Corporal. He was one of the guys visiting.

I'll try to attach pix to this e-mail, but please Doc, bear in mind that I am the original Cro-Magnon man when computers are the subject. I have a lengthy download of pictures of an Australian Mk 48 torpedo attack
(practice) on an old ship. Are you interested?

Regards, Bob

PS, did you go in to Cuba?

click on this image to go to that web site:

Capt. Patt

Who is this Dude? email: docrio45 [@] gmail.com

Miguel Yanez & Doc Luttrell Hershel Davis

Hung Larry Bailey Kiet Nuyen

Christopher L. Zevallos

L to R: Pauson, Bill Earley, "French" Boisevert, and Callahan

Photo by Joe Singleton UDT WWII from Angelton TX

---------- Original Message ----------
From: "Doc Rio" <docrio@warpspeed1.net>
To: "Will Randall" <randallwe@aol.com>, "Tom Schmitt" <schmitthouse@gmail.com>,
Subject: Emails that have come my way from these folks. Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:15:02 -0500

Please give me your name if you have an email listed only as ; Example: justUDT@somewhere.net
I would like to separate the SEALs from the other Veterans.
Thank you.

Please respond with the word in SUBJECT line:
CIVILIAN SEAL BOAT SUPPORT(or whatever it is called now) PBR EOD DV UWSS USMC

Thank you very much. Erasmo "Doc" Riojas SEAL Team TWO notoriaty
"NO" class number; My hell weeks in the korean war as USMC "Leg"

Thanks doc RIojas www.sealtwo.org

From: ahoyxfrog1@netzero.com
To: docrio@warpspeed1.net
Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 4:58 PM
Subject: Re: Emails that have come my way from these folks.

Rio: You'll have to tell me why you need to know, first. I am real cautious who I give out personal infomation to. Sorry. ~Jack Schitt

P.S. Please don't feel bad about it. You're not the only one, there's a lot of guys who don't know Jack Schitt.

From: "Doc Rio"
To: <ahoyxfrog1 [at] netzero.com>
Subject: Re: Emails that have come my way from these folks. Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:00:57 -0500

LOL! sure, my web site is unclassiefied. so is my email list. don't give anything if you feel unsecure about it.

Jack Schitt (you smell like that too?), you may already be on my web site www.sealtwo.org I got so much shit in there i can not remember who or where.
respond with REMOVE in subject line and i'll paint you gone.

no problemo,

Ahoy X Frog 1 if you are a SEAL: HooYah

doc Riojas retired ST-2 'nam war games
bio on navy Log, usn Navy Memorial ,
search Erasmo Riojas -----

From: Robert Berry
To: Doc Rio
Sent: Saturday, September 26, 2009 6:07 AM
Subject: Re: Emails that have come my way from these folks.

Mi..o..mi..o...I am the one that lives down the bio.....My photo is in the Navy Memorial Log, also. Been there nylon 20 years now. I am the only son of Awe Schitt. You see, Awe Schitt was the only ferilizer magnate in the south that was knee deep in the business. So it was only natural that he would marry, Noe Schitt, the daughterof O. Schitt, owner of Needeep N. Schitt, Inc. They got together to keep the dynasty heir strong. They had only one son, Jack. Thanks to my genealogy efforts to provide you with "clues" ---you can now respond in an intellectual way. ~Jack

ahoyxfrog1 , "A 50's Frog"

From: "Doc Rio" >
To: <ahoyxfrog1 [at] netzero.com>
Subject: Re: Emails that have come my way from these folks. Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:51:20 -0500

http://www.navylog.org/Default.aspx?&gv380__gvac=2&tabid=58&gv380__gvff0=Schitt&gv380__gvfl0=4&gv380__gvff1=Jack&gv380__gvfl1=5
Jack Schitt is not enrolled in the Navy Memorial's Navy Log.

Adios and Up yhour ass with mobile gas and happy motoring.

doc Rio

From: ahoyxfrog1
To: Sent: Saturday, September 26, 2009 10:22 AM
Subject: Re: Emails that have come my way from these folks.

Thanks, Rio.....I try to be nice to you and this is what I get back. I'll try a little harder next time. By the way, it's MOBILE EXXON now....merged a long time ago. I liked your website. I know it took a lot of doing on your part to get it up and running. You get lots of Yahoo's for that. It'll a nice thing that will keep you busy for a long time. Most of your friends will tell you that the Navy didn't know Jack Schitt back then. That's why the name isn't there. But the creator of the character is and he was one of the first on the log many years ago when the log was first established. Lighten up a little, Rio, else you'll get old fast. Losing your sense of humor has caused your San Antonio memory to fade a little. You see, a sense of humor will keep your memory sharp...take me, for example, I remember you very well...I pulled your rip cord every once in a while back then but your chute never opened...you didn't seem to be offended by it on the surface. --Of course, you were younger then. I can't hep it, it's the Irish in me...that's just the way it is.

~O'Berry

btw: I sent you a few names of frogs who have passed over the past few years...some of them, you may remember.

From: Robert Berry
To: Doc Rio
Sent: Saturday, September 26, 2009 6:07 AM
Subject: Re: Ryan Job, WIA, SEAL, Dies after surgery

Thanks Rio. That was a terrible way to die. Bet it was the onset of Staph infection that did it. Here are the names of several original " 50's Frogs" web footed friends who have passed over the previous three(3) years. Bobby Dalrymple
Trevor "Moose" Heard
Steve Bourecsky
Bob "Frogfoot" Weller
* John Hebert
* Billy Hilton (Team 3) Rick Waller None were SEALS. All were graduates of UDTraining Classes 4,5 and 6. and assigned to West Coast Teams.

There are several others who have passed whose names are not coming to the fore of my mind at the moment....I'm having a Senior blank moment. I believe Don Marler has a complete list.
* = Recently.

Tom Haden SAS Australian worked with ST-1

Richard Young Sr.

Call me corpsman, call me ‘Doc’


By KEITH POUNDS  Saturday, February 13, 2010 

Perhaps to the surprise of some, I won’t blast President Barack Obama on his 
inability to pronounce the word “corpsman” (which he pronounced “corpse man”). 
Instead, I’d like to take the opportunity to give much-needed praise to 
Navy/Fleet Marine corpsmen who are, as you will see, a special breed of 
warriors.

During my own service as a corpsman, I served at the Naval Hospital, Camp 
Lejeune, N.C., as well as onboard the USS Joseph Hewes (FF-1078) home-ported in 
Charleston, and with the 4th Marine Division, New Orleans, La. My specialties 
included combat casualty care and nuclear, biological and chemical warfare. It’s 
fair to say I know what I’m talking about.

After initial basic training (boot camp), perspective corpsmen are sent for 
medical training at the Naval School of Health Sciences in San Diego, Calif. 
From there they can specialize in any number of medical ratings including X-ray 
technician or pharmacy technician.

Corpsmen act as health advisers and emergency first responders for the Navy and 
the Marine Corps. They treat a variety of illnesses from the common cold to 
decompression sickness requiring hyperbaric treatment.

Many attend Fleet Marine Service School, where they are trained in all aspects 
of Marine Corps operations. From there, they can further specialize as a Special 
Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman or FMF Recon.

Corpsmen stationed with a Marine unit or far out at sea on a Navy warship often 
find themselves in volatile, life-threatening emergency situations. There are 
often no sterile operating rooms and equipment. Doctors and nurses are often 
miles, if not hours, away. As one author wrote, “Bunkers become operating rooms, 
shirts become tourniquets, and corpsmen become miracle workers.”

For a corpsman, being stationed with the Navy means serving in a Navy hospital 
or clinic or onboard a U.S Navy ship. We call this being “on the blue side.” For 
corpsmen stationed on “the green side,” it means serving as a specialist in 
emergency medicine and combat care with the Marine Corps.

Ask almost any Marine who has been in combat what the phrase “Corpsman up!” 
means and he’ll tell you it’s a cry for what the Marine Corps calls the “angels 
in green.” These are U.S. Navy hospital corpsman specially trained for combat 
medicine.

Combat corpsmen are trained in patrols, tactics and navigation and wear the same 
grungy, dirty, sweaty uniforms as Marines and serve as the front-line emergency 
medical response personnel, very often under enemy fire with little regard for 
their own safety.

As many corpsmen share a space on memorial walls with the Marines they tried to 
save, they have adopted as one of their mottoes, “Where angels and Marines fear 
to tread, there you’ll find a corpsman dead.”

In World War II 1,170 corpsmen lost their lives. In Korea it was 108. In 
Vietnam, 638. Fifteen died as a result of the bombing of the Marine barracks in 
Beirut in 1983. Seven corpsmen have been killed in Afghanistan and 31 have died 
in Iraq.

As further testimony to the bravery and commitment of our corpsmen on the 
battlefield, they have received 1,582 Bronze Stars, 946 Silver Stars, 31 
Distinguished Service Crosses, 174 Navy Crosses and 22 Medals of Honor.

There have been 20 Navy ships named after corpsmen. Corpsman John “Doc” Bradley 
was one of the six men photographed by Joe Rosenthal raising the second United 
States flag on Iwo Jima during World War II.

As any corpsman will tell you, few honors sit on one’s heart as well as being 
called “Doc” by your Navy and Marine buddies.

Quoted in the Navy News Service article, “The Making of a Fleet Marine Force 
Corpsman,” Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Richard Lister said, “A doc is someone you 
can count on. He’s someone in your platoon that when something happens to one of 
our fellow Marines, you can call on him and not have to worry. He’s your buddy, 
a comrade in arms, a person who you count on to cover your back, to lay down 
fire, dig fighting holes or do whatever the hell Marines are doing. That’s who a 
doc is.”

As Herschel Smith wrote in “Captain’s Journal,” “they carry a rifle, they engage 
in combat, and they do all the things that Marine infantrymen do. When the 
Marines go on 20-mile humps with full body armor, backpacks and weapons, the 
corpsmen do all of that and more. The corpsmen take all of their medical gear in 
addition to their other load.”

In his 2005 book “Corpsman up,” Paul Baviello tells of the anguish that all 
corpsmen carry with them. He writes how corpsmen “journey into a living hell and 
experience the thrills and horror of combat, the agony of the wounded and dead 
and see foxhole relationships develop between blacks and whites, farm boys and 
city kids ... when friend after friend is wounded and he knows that their lives 
are in his hands and then wonder for the rest of his life if he did the right 
things.”

Yes! Our corpsmen are among the most respected, revered members serving in the 
U.S. Navy and the Marine Corps. If you know a past or present corpsman, call him 
“Doc” and thank him for his service. He deserves it,

Keith Pounds served as a hospital corpsman 2nd class (SW) during the 
Lebanon/Grenada-era. He is the author of “The Psychology of Management” and 
holds an MBA with a concentration in organizational psychology He can be 
contacted at Keith.Pounds@alumni.aiuonline.edu

CDR Don Gaither

Jake - So glad to hear from you. So far I have received two great responses to Doc's call to help us out.

Don's widow's name is Burtis (Burt to some). I have attached a couple pix that were taken at the fifties frog reunion she attended in Louisville, KY in October 2009. Don Belcher put together a book of info about Don's navy career and made the presentation to her. She is now 88 years young and just as beautiful as ever.

We would be so appreciative if you could jot down your memories of your time with Don. He was a man of few words and I think many in the family have found out the last few years what a great Navy career he had. And also if Jean has stories about Burt and some of the other team wives, I know she would love to get them.

My home phone number is 295-2406. I usually get home from work around 6:00 pm. And weekends you just never know when you can find me home.

If you would rather send pix and info via USPS, my home address is:

Dawn Walton
Loogootee, IN 47553

I would gladly reimburse the postage.

A little background on Don: he was born and raised in Washington, Indiana (west side of Daviess County). He married Burtis who is from the east side of the county. They bought a farm and built a house just a couple of miles down the road from Burtis' mom and dad. Don's last shore duty was at Crane Naval Base about 20 miles north of there. After that, he worked as a civilian as chief ordnance officer at Crane. He later was diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer and passed away in 1983.

I married their nephew (my MIL and Burtis were sisters) in 1984. I did not know Don very well but my husband did as he and Don's son, Paul, are the same age so they spent a lot of time together and still do since he and his wife live next to Burt which is a few miles from us.

If you know of others who could share their experiences, please pass their contact info to me.

Thanks again for taking the time to write to me and also for your service.

Dawn

-----Original Message-----
From: Jake Rhinebolt
Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2010 11:56 To: Walton, Dawn M CIV NSWC Crane; doc riojas
Subject: Fw: Info request on a CDR Don Gaither

HELLO DAWN I SEE WHERE DOC RIO ASKED YOU TO SEND ME YOUR PHONE # .....I AM JAKE RHINEBOLT..... CDR GAITHER WAS KNOWN TO THE TROOPS AS THE BULL GATOR.--- AND WAS C. O. OF UDT 22.....OR 21 ......IN MY BOOK .

I BELIEVE THE REST OF THE TEAM HE WAS THE MOST RESPECTED C.O.OF THEIR CAREAR AND WE ALL HAD SOME GOOD ONES.......MY WIFES NAME IS JEAN WHO REMEMBERS HIS WIFE BUT NOT HER NAME.

JEAN JUST FOUND A GOOD PICTURE OF HER WITH TWO TEAM WIVES ....OUR PHONE # IS 389-1195....SEND US YOURS AND WE WILL GET YOU A PICTURE AND THERE ARE SOME TERRIFIC STORIES OF THE GATOR WHICH I NOR ANY OTHER TEAM MEMBER WILL EVER FORGET.

.IF IT AS ANY HELP I CAN SEND YOU A LIST OF NAMES AND ADDRESES WHO HAVE GOOD MEMORIES OF HIM........JAKE

From: Doc Rio
Subject: Fw: Info request on a CDR Don Gaither
To: "UDT-SEAL Association"
Date: Thursday, February 11, 2010,

DOes anyone know him and can answer this woman?>

thank you Rio

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Walton, Dawn
To: Doc Riojas
Date: Thu, Feb 11, 2010 at 11:31 AM
Subject : Info request

I am married to the nephew of CDR Don Gaither. I am trying to help his widow with locating information or pictures of Don during his Navy career with UDT. Just wondering if you crossed pathes with him either at Little Creek or Coronado?

Thanks for your time.

Dawn Walton

Billy B Boy GAither sure shook some ghost up.. That was Team UDT 21 there should be some more guys around.. That knew him Officer types.. they take pictures.. Funny I forgot to ask Rudy.. He has a ton..

HELLO DAWN I SEE WHERE DOC RIO ASKED YOU TO SEND ME YOUR PHONE # .....I AM JAKE RHINEBOLT..... CDR GAITHER WAS KNOWN TO THE TROOPS AS THE BULL GATOR.--- AND WAS C. O. OF UDT 22.....OR 21 ......IN MY BOOK AND I BELIEVE THE REST OF THE TEAM HE WAS THE MOST RESPECTED C.O.OF THEIR CAREAR AND WE ALL HAD SOME GOOD ONES.......MY WIFES NAME IS JEAN WHO REMEMBERS HIS WIFE BUT NOT HER NAME...... JEAN JUST FOUND A GOOD PICTURE OF HER WITH TWO TEAM WIVES ....OUR PHONE # IS 389-1195....SEND US YOURS AND WE WILL GET YOU A PICTURE AND THERE ARE SOME TERRIFIC STORIES OF THE GATOR WHICH I NOR ANY OTHER TEAM MEMBER WILL EVER FORGET.......IF IT AS ANY HELP I CAN SEND YOU A LIST OF NAMES AND ADDRESES WHO HAVE GOOD MEMORIES OF HIM........JAKE

From: "William R. Daugherty"
To: "Doc Rio"
Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2010 5:25 PM
Subject: Re: Info request on a CDR Don Gaither

Oh yea. My 1st udt CO. We called him obstacle course pine cone lunch.
He ran the o course every day and those who pissed him off had to go
with him.
Bill

Sent from my iPhone

Rogueman Don Gaither is old history may be the 50 frogs might have something.. I knew him but never got his picture.. He is the one that took us on the death run over the mountain in St T. and made Rip Collins and me go the obsticle course with him every lunch break.. also a keeper of the ladies in St T.. Tough guy but squared away..

Bilklya burbank

From: trident33To: Larry Bailey ; Doc Rio ; dawn.walton@navy.mil

Cc: UDT-SEAL Association ; Jim Cook ; Tom Blais ; Bill Bruhmuller ; chuck newell

Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2010 8:09 PM

Subject: Re: Info request on a CDR Don Gaither

Larry,

He relieved Frank Kaine as CO, UDT-21 in 1957, and I was his XO for about 1-1/2 years. I'll followup with more, as well as a few photos of his change of command when he relieved Frank Kaine.

when you left Team 21 was the C.O. Don Gaither. I remember a
LCDR Gaither in "60 when we were in St. T. was this him?. I remember
CB Thomas being locked in a conex and Sam B reporting him AWOL to the
C.O. Gerald T. (Jerry) Hammerle

Posted by Gerald T. (Jerry) Hammerle on Thursday, February 11, 2010

Kerry, when you left Team 21 was the C.O. Don Gaither. I remember a
LCDR Gaither in "60 when we were in St. T. was this him?. I remember
CB Thomas being locked in a conex and Sam B reporting him AWOL to the
C.O. while CB was hollering the whole time from in the box but no one
would acknowledge him.
This was also the year someone nailed his wood shower shoes to a 2x4
to keep him from making so much noise at night when he was up walking
around.
There are many more CB stories out there, have any?

Jerry, 22 (EC)

Posted by Ken Abasolo on Thursday, February 11, 2010

Check of the database shows that this man is among our ranks.

Gaither, Donald G, Lt - Lt. Cdr.
Class: 0 Early
Teams listed: UDT21, UDT5

Rio asked me to post this for him.

Ken.

THE 4 STRIPPER IS CAPT. TALLANT NOSE GROUP......THE FRENCH GUY ON THE LEFT IS THE ONE ARMED CAPT...........JAKE
--- On Mon, 2/15/10, Harry Humphries wrote:

From: Harry Humphries
Subject: RE: I would like help in IDing all the ST-2 guys: thank you
To: "Erasmo Riojas" , "Jake Rhinebolt" Doc Martin
Date: Monday, February 15, 2010, 6:48 PM

Klaus Kratky sp? to left of Jessie. Stan Janeka to chuck's right. Pierre Burts to Jake's Left. Harry Humphries to Jakes Right, left of Doc Martin. The short Lt. is our skipper, Tom Tarbox (TNT) and the Captain is NOSEGROUP commander, not sure but Jake would know.

FYI Jack Lynch passed away at 1640 ET.

best mates,

RIP YES HARRY THAT WAS SOME TRIP....YOU TOOK THE PICTURES OF THE LAUNCH SITE WHILE EVERY ONE ELSE WAS HAVING SNAKS +WINE....GALLAGER TURNED A BEACH SURVEY INTO A SWIM ON THE BEACH AMONGST THE GIRLS....ON ARIVAL TO PARIS THE NAVAL ATTACHE WAS GOING TO THROW US OUT OF COUNTRY BECAUSE OF OUR CONDUCT ON ARRIVAL AND BECAUSE NOSG HAD NOT TOLD HIM WE WERE COMING.....CHOICE WORDS FROM GALLAGER HELPED ME EXPLAIN WHY THROWING US OUT WAS A BAD IDEA....AND HE WISLY RELENTED......SAM F. KEPT THE FRENCH GUYS ENTERTAINED ALL NITE EVERY NITE AND BARELY SURVIVED THE LONG SWIMS ..... HE WAS COUGHING BLOOD EVERY MORNING ON THE PIER.......ON FINISHING THE TRIP JIM WATSON ORGANIZED US AND WE ALL CHIPPED IN FOR A GIBSON GUITAR FOR SAM =A PERFECT TRIP ......WE GOT A WELL DONE FROM
--- On Mon, 2/15/10, Doc Rio wrote:

From: Doc Rio
Subject: I would like help in IDing all the ST-2 guys: thank you
To: "Harry Humphries" , "Jake Rhinebolt" , "Richard Martin"
Cc: "Doc Rio"
Date: Monday, February 15, 2010, 6:39 PM

Jake,

I found this picture on the set of GI Jane we shot back in 90s. The set decorator found a collector of SEAL memorabilia and used the collection to decorate the set. I was perusing the stuff and had to look twice holy Shit, a shot of our old Assault Group 2 with you in the lead, Gallagher, Piere Burts, Myself and Doc Martin. Also Tom Tarbox, Rudy Chuck Jessie, Peewee Nealy. The old original Team 2. Those were the days. Oh by the way the French Commandos and the follow on trip to Toulon! Wow.

Doc you should post this one on your collection this was just before we deployed to VN.

Best to you both,

Hump

Harry Humphries,

----- Original Message -----

From: Harry Humphries

To: Erasmo Riojas ; Jake Rhinebolt ; Doc Martin

Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 5:48 PM

Subject: RE: I would like help in IDing all the ST-2 guys: thank you

Klaus Kratky sp? to left of Jessie. Stan Janeka to chuck's right. Pierre Burts to Jake's Left. Harry Humphries to Jakes Right, left of Doc Martin. The short Lt. is our skipper, Tom Tarbox (TNT) and the Captain is NOSEGROUP commander, not sure but Jake would know.

FYI Jack Lynch passed away at 1640 ET.

best mates,

HH

Harry Humphries,
President, Global Studies Group
www.gsgi.biz

Capt. William A. “ Bill” Robinson

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Doug Robinson Date: Mon, Feb 15, 2010
Subject: My Father; Capt Bill Robinson
To: Doc Rio

Dear Doc, I hope this email finds you well. I tried emailing you before but had no success. Please sir, if you have anyone that has or if you have any pictures of my late uncle, Capt. William A. “ Bill” Robinson (1931-88), I would sincerely appreciate it. Even if you have any stories on him, that would be very appreciated. Thank you.

Best, Doug Robinson

From: Larry Bailey
Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 5:36 PM
To: Doc Rio
Cc: Rudy Boesch
Subject: Re: Capt Bill Robinson (1931-88): looking for pictures and seastories about him

I knew Bill fairly well. In fact, it was Bill who provided a home and a job and a car (his Aston-Martin, I think it was) to my Australian girlfriend in 1970.

A story I heard, but I wasn't there. Bill was CO of an amphibious ship of some kind in the Norfolk/Little Creek area and encountered problems with loading some kind of cargo. He thereupon had his sailors cut a hole in the side of the ship to make things easier. The admiral did NOT like that, because he had technically accomplished a "ship alt" (ship alteration), which was a BIG no-no. I think he skated, though.

I'm afraid I don't have any photos of Bill, nor any more stories than the two snaps above.

Larry Bailey

----- Original Message -----
From: Doug Robinson
To: 'Larry Bailey'
Cc: 'Doc Rio' Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 8:23 PM
Subject: RE: Capt Bill Robinson (1931-88): looking for pictures and seastories about him
Capt William A. Robinson was his name but he was called Bill. He was murdered in San Diego while looking at real estate in Feb 1988, in broad day light. It was most likely a professional hit and they never found the perp’s. Over 1000 people attended uncle Bill’s service, it was a sight for my eyes. Thanks for all your kind and generous time, Doc, sir. Best, DAR

Doc Riojas,

The Christmas Cards begin from 1946 when Dad entered the US Naval Academy (Bill followed to USNA in 1949), so Bill was still in High School in Arlington Heights, IL. The cards are small, old and in black and white photos that were copied onto the little paper 4” X 4” Christmas cards. I scanned the pix you now have, and that was the clearest and best resolution I could get. That is the best we can get from these old paper, printed copies. Sorry. That is why I pray that some of your fellow patriots can help. Best, DAR

My uncle Bill. Lt. James A Robinson (1927-2002) USNA 1950

Smitty wrote that: "Having done about all the advising for the LDNNs that I could do, I was getting anxious to leave the Cam Ranh Bay peninsula and go someplace where I could get involved again in actual combat missions." Page 62.

Smitty was my good buddy. We were advisors at the LDNN training Camp at CamRanhBay Vietnam in 1970. I am contradicting the above entry on page 62 of his book "Death in the Delta; Diary of a Navy SEAL" because his transfer down to SeaFloat did not go down the way he tells it in his book. Please, I am not calling him a liar, after so many years, he remembers those events different than I do. I have LT. Kuhn's email if anyone wants to challenge my contradiction.

It is not true. I was there when Smitty got orders from CDR John O'Drain to go to SeaFLoat and take the place of a USMC LCPL that was working with TuTa Al. Sphinx EOD. That Marine was the second advisor along with TuTa Sphinx that were in charge of riding two swift boats that were escorting the civilian sand barges being towed by USA civilian tug boats. They were hauling sand from down the South China Sea to build up the marsh on the banks of SeaFLoat where Solid Anchor was to be constructed. This was happening every day, and sometimes twice a day.

Erasmo "Doc" Riojas worked for/with LCDR Al Sphinx for about 45 days. I relieved an airdale sailor that hated that job a lot worse than I did. In order for him to get out of that shitty job, he put a smoke grenade in one of his leg cammie pants pocket. He then duck taped the pants leg so that he would not be able to stop the grenade from burning after he pulled the pin on it. He burned a hole so large in his leg that the Corpsmen from seafloat were speculating that he may have to have his leg amputated.

Now do you believe that working with Al Sphinx escorting those sand barges was a shitty job? Riding a Swift Boat, hot deck, no place to hide if the did hit the boat with an RPG! The deck on those metal boats got so hot we could not sit on it's deck.

I was relieved by that LCPL USMC Negro marine. That kid lasted about two weeks before he got wounded on one of his arms. That job was the shittiest job that Rio was ever assigned to while in Vietnam. While Al Sphinx was living in a tent, Rio had to sleep on a plywood hootch on six foot stilts because of the rising tide. The Viet Hi and the Kit Carson Scouts lived on hootches that were built on top of ground that was raised by the SeaBee bulldozers. There were hundreds of rats where we lived and when the tide came up, they would crawl up anything available including Doc Rio's hootch.

When LT Kuhn told Smitty that he was going to go work at SeaFloat he became a very unhappy camper. In the book, Smitty said he asked to be transferred, but who would want to leave a safe and secure area in the rear with the whiskey and beer for a shitty hole like Sea Float? We were in one of Vietnam's paradises. It was as if we were in Key West FL. White Sandy beaches, clear blue water, tons of lobster and fish and the base had a large Mess Hall and EM and CPO and Officer's Clubs. We had a Post Office and a large Navy Exchange. Life was good there. No incoming fire, and no V.C. Smitty did not want to leave. He was forced to leave.

The best thing about Smitty going to SeaFloat is that he lived on SeaFLoat with his buddies from SEAL Team ONE. I had to live on the beach next to AL Sphinx's tent. I was very much disliked by the SEALs from Team ONE because I was an East Coast Puke. I would not go eat on SeaFloat. I would either eat "C" Rations or go eat with the Viet Hi. I had to use the shower on the beach from SeaFloat but I would try to make it when the SEALs were not using it. I did not want to get into fist or verbal fights with them because I was totally outnumbered. I hated every day I spend on that gig with LCDR Sphinx escorting the sand barges on board the Swift Boats.

You must go read Gary's Smith's adventures with Tuta Sphinx. I know he was in a shitty job, Smitty did not bad mouth LCDR Sphinx in his book. That is good.

Al Sphinx gave orders that if we got shot at or we received VC rocket fire, we were to beach the boat and jump off and go kill all the VC. As if the VC, usually a few sappers were going to wait for us to land on the beach and kill them. The VC were very clever at how they fired their RPGs remotely from a ways into the swamp. While I was there we got fired at but they never hit the boats or inflicted any personnel casualties. God, I hated that job with a passion and the day I left, after about 45 days, I gave God thanks for getting me out of that shit hole. I had to take a Jolly Green Giant to Soc Trang. I stayed there in a SeaBee Camp for two days awaiting a fixed wing flight to Saigon.

I had a great time being a guest of the Seabees. They treated me very friendly. I had a place to sleep and plenty to eat and drink. They made me an honorary Master Builder after I showed them that I could do something they could not do. The ole breaking the web belt in two pieces with one's bare hands. Yes, I showed them how I did that trick.

They had a movie every night and they would bring in girls from the nearest village to work in their clubs and to do hootch cleaning and such tasks. Those guys had it made. The day I left Soc Trang, on the way to the airfield, there was a VN pheasant selling small baby Rock Pyton snakes. I bought one and named it "Frito." I made it back to Saigon safely, back to my hotel room at the LeiLi. I was given time off and took off for R&R to Thailand with two PBR CPO buddies from the Lei Li. Two weeks in Bangkok was exactly what I needed to forget my days with AL Sphinx and the Sand Barges and the Team ONE SEALs and the rats.

SEA STORY: We were having a steak cook out by our hootch. It was LT. Kuhn, Chief Willits, Doc Marshall, Frency Bosivert, and Doc Rio. We noticed coming through the gate to our camp "Smitty." We were being visited by a Navy Journalist doing a story on our camp.

We told him to invite Smitty for a picture of us around our BBQ drum. We all had made plans to take a very deep breath and push out our chests at the time the picture was to be taken. We did not tell Smitty about that.

When Smitty saw the photo, he said, "guys, I got to start working out, look at me." The photo showed Smitty slouched with his gut hanging out. We all had a great laugh. There is that picture on my website www.sealtwo.org somewhere.

Quan and Journalist at LDNN Camp