Hoo Yah! Deep Diving Diecks
On Fri, Jan 9, 2015 Bob Diecks
diecks38 @ xtra.co.nz
wrote:
WHAT'S UP DOC?
Guess who?
Here we go; Jackie Lee, Delta Platoon, 67,, ST-1,,, Moses Marquez,, Kilo platoon
ST-1 69 ?,,, UDT-12 Doc.."Don't spemd too much time on the shitter or a
mortor will get you, Don't remember name. Doc Beaver w/cigar,, UDTRA class 29
staff Doc... Sorry about that Doc,, I hit the wrong key and lost it all,,, VN's
are Duck and Moanie,, ex-field grade capt VC,, worked with Kilo platoon,, was
kia on brake in op..It was suggested that as platoon LPO I take the op,, I flat
turned it down because of Gene Tinnen and Curtis Williams,,, our J.O was
directed to take it... Young Lt Jg Dave.... I tried to talk him out of it..But
he was high pressured by our Lt OIC and the Black shoe CDR of Sea Float,,,, They
said if he couldn"t handle the job they would send him home... Shortly
after insurtition the two platoons encircled each other and took each other
under fire.. The rest is too painful vto talk abour,, But peapol ask, "How
Are you ??? I always reply,,"Glad to be alive"
Jackie Kee,, Boot Camp Photo,,#2 M
ses Marquez Kilo Plt Sea Float, 69..UDT-12 Corpsman Doc Beaver UDTRA class 29 training dive.. .The VN hugging Mone,, Duck, KIA'ed as point man on a brake in op,, when LTJG Dave (it will come to me),, KIA'ed on a brake in op,, I as LPO refused to take the brake in op as it sounded just like a Jean Tinnen op where my good friend CCurtis Williams almost went down as well.. I'mv looking on my past e-mails for your posting address,, I'm sending you a CD,, Go off by yourself and listen to it,, Try not to cry;
"Thanks for all you've done for all of us DOC" DEEP DIVING"
Doc;
Not sure who the diver on the safety line is, although I took the photo while
using a diesel boats services to conduct lock in and outs for FNG's,, I was SM!
then and in the DV locker ST-1, At the time I was running the show... Have many
more SDV & Sub-ops photos..
Hoo
Yah, Deep Diving"
DEEP DIVING DIECKS
From: Bob Diecks
To: Tom Frank Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2015
Subject: Photograph
Frank;
Hope all came thru and right side up.. The last one is for you,,,I've many
more,, I guess the little 16 mm camra I used to carry on my dog tag chain paid
off in the end...
As soon as I work out this machine I'll pass more on to our Vietnam Vets and
Frogman Friday,,
And Doc Rieo as well.... Hope these photos help Dee's Family work things out,,,
The one thing I realy remember is the bloody big snake he brought home in a sack
in Delta Plt's gun box,,, Bolldy big bugger too,, in the end it excaped in
Coronado and was never seen again...
Glad to help...
Hoo Yah Deep Diving Diecks "Down in New Zealand"
Email to Deep Dive from: Robert Ross
to: Bob Vasmer-Diecks
From: Robert, Kati, Ross Jr.
Subj:
Long ago and far away in San Diego; you taught me to SCUBA Dive
Doc Rio: Will you please put this msg on page 20 my web
page. I'll respond to this fellow and one other and ask for a photo and a copy of his Diver OD with my NAUI / PADI number on it.
Thanks and Cheer's & HOO YAH, DEEP DIVING DIECKS
Email
From: Robert ROSS <ross.rj4@gmail.com> Date: Sun, Apr 28, 2019
Subject: Re: Long ago and far away in San Diego; you taught me to SCUBA Dive
To: <diecks38@gmail.com>
Cc: Robert ROSS <ross.rj4@gmail.com>
On Sat, Apr 27, 2019 Robert ROSS wrote: Bob
Diecks; back in October of 1976 I was just out of Corps school and attached to the
Pharmacy Balboa Naval Hospital Pharmacy. One day I happened to look up at the bulletin in the Pharmacy and saw an ad for a
SCUBA class It said to contact Bob Diecks to sign up.
The date on my original NAUI card was 10-76 and your instructor # is 3390. It made me think back; I don't know if you remember that night our class was working in the pool; you said we (the instructors) are going to strip you of your diving gear and you are not allowed to surface for any reason. My partner was a Pharmacist and we knew each other from work. Well in the end of that session in the pool we were sharing gear and we were the last two to surface.
My name is Robert Ross NAUI registration # 457221. When we dove the La Jolla trench just before graduation it left a lasting memory that I still dream about to this day.
I still continue to dive to this day even at 64 years young. Thanks for the memories and for putting up your website. I hope it was ok to just drop you a line. We knew each other way back when...I hope your well and doing your thing. It's an honor to write you.
Go Navy
Robert Ross
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Doc;
I sent you a wee bit of package post today. Lets see just how long it takes to arrive
in The Lone Star State ?? More to follow... I hade the lady at the post office
put some lovely NZ stamps on it for you or any kids you know that collect
stamps... I think you asked how old I am,, 01 April 1940, 75 and remember where
I was on V-E & V-J day. I'll be changing to diecks38@gmail.com very
soon... All's well here with our family,, Take care mate
Hoo Yah Deep Diving
Doc;
That's a roger,, Berry,,, Ted Cassa and Jumping Joe Jenkins,, Had not seen
jumping Joe since BMCS George Rush's Wake,, George was NCDU, UDT-12, I bought
my yacht ARMOREL from George & Jan,, We called her mother "FROG"
This reunion must of been in early 85 as I drove up from The Baja B.C.S. for
it,, and on April 05 0f 85 I sailed out of Mexico after five years for
Tahiti. That was the last time I saw Leon Rauch. He was
walking with a stick, when I
asked him about it ? He gave me a bloody great wallop with it... When I was
running my Sports SCUBA classes at USNTC I qualified his Son as a diver.
Its a bloody long string and we're all laced together "Your Brother",
"HOO YAH DEEP DIVING"
P,S, The other fellow is Ted Kassa, I next saw him when he came down to New Zealand. to visit Dave (Jolly Green Giant) Bodkin just after my son ODIN WAS BORN AND DAVE & SHARON WERE ANCHORED IN MANGONUI WITH US.
Bob
Diecks via yahoo.com
Doc;
Received your msg & links,, Thanks. Good J-O-B,, How did you hook up with the
Poway FRA ??
I sent them some info because they have been sending me their news letter each
month,,, And I don't know how that got started...
So about Armorel, Which is the Celtic meaning of Sea Princess,, I retired on 17
Sept 76 and on 05 Jan of 77 I bought Armorel from George Rush,, BMCS
NCDU/UDT-12,
George & Jan Rush (Mother Frog) were members of the CYC, George & Jan
had just returned from a five year cruise down to The Canal Zone, Thru Mexico
and return
I bought the boat,, Joined the CYC and moved aboard...In the early 80's I sailed
out passed Pt Loma,, turned right and went down to the Sea Of Cortez for a few
years of Diving and fishing,,,
05 April I departed The Baja for Tahita and the islands of the South West
Pacificd,, Cooks,,Tonga,, Fiji and on to New Zealand, arriving on 09 Dec of 85..
.I spent the first two years going thru a complete rebuild of Armorel and after
that sailing out to Manerva Reef and Tonga every april and returning to N.Z. in
December to avoid cyclones in the Islands,, But thats another sea story,, I'd
like to write a book "Trails Thru The South Pacific"
One year in The Kingdom Of Tonga I met up with Jerry Fletcher,,, The USS John R.
Bruton ships Capt & Crew on The King of Tongas' 50th Birthday. But thats
another sea story..
I traveled to Mother England to meet past owners of Armorel,, Got invited to The
Royal London Yacht Club on Cows Day by Lady Heath and met Big Ears HRH himself
who was the Commodore of the RLYC...I've had a good time of it because of
Armorel.
She was once owned by Glenn Yraghboure of the lime lighters, His first boat..
He still is in the music business and posts me his latest discs... I can send
you a video disc of Armorel sailing from Mother England to San Francisco in
1959,,
Send my your posting Address. So I've said too much and am boreing tou to
tears old timer.....
You asked how I got the name Deep Diving ?? When I learn a bit more about this
machine I'll pass you some paperwork to back up the story..
Take Care Team Mate
Thanks again for your efforts
Hoo Yah Deep Diving Diecks Take Care Team Mate
May31,2015
To: Doc Rio From: D.D. D. Deep Diving Diecks
Doc I hope you get my package with the CD and the pictures. In Armdrel's Cockpit
I am anjoying a cigar from "the Manila Hotel R.P.I. On my private 4 ton
mooring, Mangonvi Harbcure, Far North, N.Z. Note: The Big bronze bell was made
for Armorel in S.P.F. Subic Bay. Manufactured of old silver peso's in the
casting. My son's God Father, Frank Blackstons had it made for us. He was 2nd
engineer aboard a USNS ammo ship out of subic. This bay was where we also spend
Christmas with Dave And Sharon Bodkin when Odin was born on 06 Dec 1997. Ted and
Helen Kassa also came down by air to visit Dave and Helen. The bellsmith won 3d
place, World champ for tone in Switzerland. I always rign out 8 slow bells for
the passing of a Teamate. Bob Diecks
Pictures from Bob "Deep DIve Diecks" Diecks from Vietnam War Games
Lt. Robert Peterson ST-2
PBR Sailor a VN interpreter name: Rio.
email: 21Jun2015 RIO, I can not recall the events these photos
depict. The only PBR sailor I remember we used on ops was Ray Price, I thinks
that is him in the photo but not sure. Jim West is not a name I recall. We
should of had a platoon scribe keep a record.
Robert "Pete" LT Peterson
Chuck Jesse and Doc Riojas
Fred Keener
SEAL K-9 Interpreter too
Minh, VN interpreter
Roberts and Claude Willits
ST1 and ST2
Bob Diecks
Claude Willits
c
Cheer's Bob (Deep Diving) Diecks USN-ret..
On Wed, Oct 28, 2015 Jack Strandquist <jack [at] strand3d.com> wrote:
"Cheer's Bob (Deep Diving) Diecks USN-ret..
Bob Diecks, I'm hoping this is your email address. I found it on the Seal Team Two web site.
You were my NAUI instructor (#3390) in San Diego in 1976. I was just another face, but you did a great job and it influenced the rest of my professional life. At that time I was a young ensign undergoing training prior to landing on my first ship, a destroyer escort, but after your SCUBA class I decided to investigate becoming a navy diver, and in 1979 I was admitted to the Naval School, Diving & Salvage, in Washington, DC, the last class before the school was officially closed (a new school was opened in Panama City, FL about a year later).
My experience in dive school, especially the salvage training, and my subsequent experience on a tender convinced me to pursue a career as an engineer. Thanks for being one of those early, positive influences in a young person's life.
I hope you are still enjoying your own life and doing well.
Sincerely,
Jack Strandquist
Berthoud, Colorado www.linkedin.com/in/strandquist
Date: Fri, Oct 30, 2015
From: Bob Vasmer-Diecks
To: Jack Strandquist
Subject: Hi!
Jack;
Very Good To Hear from you... I'm still alive and well,, and still diving at 75, I now live in New Zealand with my 18 year son Odin,, British wife Caroline and after 38 years still own our 40 ft. yacht Armorel which I sailed down here from The Sea of Cortez after spend five years there diving and fishing... Sounds as if you've done quite well for yourself,, ""Good On You Mate"" My old Team Mate Doc Rio of Seal Team Two runs the web sight and I check in from time to time with photos from down here on ANZAC Day events,, I still fit in my dress blues and make The Dawn Parade with the old Diggers from The Russell R.S.A. on 24 April..
Thanks for checking in with me and bringing me up to date on your activities,, Keep the good news coming Jack..
WEBMASTER NOTE:
Jack Strandquist graduated from the last class at D.S.D.S. US naval gun factory Wash D.C. ! Doc rio graduated in class 4/55 ! Erasmo "Doc" Riojas I was an HM2 at that time.
Aldo Ray
Bob Gormley
Garry Parrott
Mike Bailey
Zacharias E. Buob
Aldo Ray, Hollywood Movie star's Plt.
spikey1971 wrote:
I was going thru your site and I saw this picture on page 20. It is a picture of
airsoft reenactors in Japan or some other Asian country. Not Vietnam era Real
SEALs.
Mike Rush Historian
Gerry Flowers Dick Draper
Charlie Watson
2014West Coast Reunion
West Coast SEAL retiring
Jerry Bair
\\
Lt to Rt. Top to Bottom:
Ensign JT Hall, AOIC, bryan Yarbro, (my SDV pilot), next ?? either Dell Griffith or Marcus Presson, Plt LPO, Plt Corpsman ?? Me: LT. Michael Wood, OinC, Jom Morel, Plt CPO, Bruce Soltice (R.I.P.)
From:
John Potter
to Doc Rio,
First let me introduce myself. My name is John Potter and I met you a long time
ago when you were at ST-2 (circa 1968). You would hang out with my parents (Doug
and Claudette Potter) at the Chief's club or the E-beach. Yourself, Doc Martin
(who ate our grasshoppers - LoL) Dan Z, Bob (the Eagle), Mike B, Frank, and many
others visited us when we lived in Italy.
I graduated from BUD/S (class 104) in 1978 (or 79 - I can't remember as it all
was a blur) and my first assignment was at ST-2 with Rudy B, Dennis D, Devoir K
(the Bull), Roger G, Tom K, Perrier B, Perrir P and many other teammates.
When I checked into ST-2, I asked about you and I believe you had retired or
moved to TX to work in the medical field. Sorry I missed you.
I enjoyed many great years in the teams. However, in 1998 I retired after 22
years. Boy do I miss those good ol days. Thanks to team guys like yourself,
Billy (and many other warriors) who paved the way for me and the rest of the
teammates to follow.
I've attached a picture of Me, my dad and son - Citadel graduation/commission.
My dad passed away about 18 months ago. And my mom is currently looking at
moving to AL.
Thank you for setting up the ST-2 website. It's great being about to see old
teammates again.
Take care, God bless and I pray Billy and his family.....
John sends...
SOC Kevin A. Houston was killed in action in Afghanistan on Aug. 6, 2011, along with 30 other American sailors and soldiers and airmen when the Chinook-47 helicopter
Standing
at midfield an hour later, State Rep. Brian Mannal (D-Barnstable) emceed the
football program’s jersey retirement ceremony, making sure to pay a special
debt of gratitude to the people whose idea it was to retire the jersey.
Equally as important, Houston’s former co-captain and best friend Joe Kennedy
(Barnstable High School Class of 1994) presented the school with a magnificent
shadow box holding Jersey #46 in combination with photos of the late US Navy
Seal and duplicates of his U.S. military service ribbons. Stoic throughout his
presentation, Kennedy made certain all of those involved were recognized for
their contribution to the event, in particular Meg Chaffee and John and Teresa
Hardy of the Quarterback Club.
http://www.capecod.com/sports/emotional-homecoming-us-navy-seals-red-raider-football-jersey-retired/
Dennis Sprenkle ST-2 Photo Album
Dennis Sprenkle ST-2 Photo Album
From:
Dennis Sprenkle
To: Doc Riojas+
tDoc,
Denny Johnson made the disk from some slides I gave him about 5 years ago. Use
what you like, you have my permission.
I was in the 6 th plt. Boink, Thrift, Patches, Nelson, Doc Hammer, Leasure,
Lewis, Slater, Fellers, Hyde, Porter, and Duke Leonard. that picture of me was
taken by Slater. me, Lewis and slater we're going somewhere on a slick.
We were working out of Camau and Hy yen in early 70.
Dennis Sprenkle
Mike Mc Donald, Richard CYrus, and Michael F. Parrish sitting: ? Fred Keener?
From:
torr jacobsen (torrjacobsen.com)
to: doc riojas, navy SEAL
Subj: michael f. parrish
I found a picture in your "MI VIDA LOCA", table of contents, page 20.
it is the 2nd listed photo in dennis sprenkle ST-2 photo album. i am assuming
that it is a photo of 4 navy seals in a kitchen. you have identified two of
seals as mike mcdonald and richard cyrus. i can verify that the seal standing on
the far right with the beard is michael f. parrish.
mike just passed away on sept. 5, 2014, as reflected in your RIP note. mike and
his younger brother dick lived just around the corner from me, growing up in
jackson, michigan. the two brothers were big men on our high school campus..
sharp, athletic, and good looking. everyone loved them, especially the girls.
the brothers, even as boys, represented what you would call.. "mens'
men."
my hope is that you would possibly update the picture and include mike's name.
also, if you have any knowledge or information regarding mike when he was in the
seals i would be appreciative if you would email me.
thank you mr. riojas for your service to our country, and to your on going
activity with your navy seal family.
with special regards, torr jacobsen
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Dennis G. Sprenkle
??, and Dennis G. Sprenkle
Dennis G. Sprenkle
Dennis G. Sprenkle
Dennis G. Sprenkle
Dennis G. Sprenkle
Dennis G. Sprenkle
Dennis G. Sprenkle
Jerry Waters
Jerry Waters
Mike Mc Donald and ??????
lt. to rt.: ? Hook Tuure, ??, ??, ??, Chuck Fellers, ??, ??
??, and Terry
Zelmo, Jim Glasscock's rock python in NhaBea, Vietnam
6 th plt. Boink, Thrift, Patches, Nelson, Doc Hammer, Leasure, Lewis, Slater, Fellers, Hyde, Porter, and Duke Leonard. that picture of me was taken by Slater. me, Lewis and slater, Joe Silva, Jerry Waters, Dick Cyrus, Denny Johnson, Danny Sprenkle, Mike McDonald
6 th plt. Boink, Thrift, Patches, Nelson, Doc Hammer, Leasure, Lewis, Slater, Fellers, Hyde, Porter, and Duke Leonard. that picture of me was taken by Slater. me, Lewis and slater, Joe Silva, Jerry Waters, Dick Cyrus, Denny Johnson, Danny Sprenkle, Mike McDonald
Thomas N. Tarbox R.I.P.
A
salute to Tom Tarbox
By Tiffany Strong
The Herald Gazette Reporter
Source: but no longer there: http://knox.villagesoup.com/print/Print.cfm?StoryID=165266
CAMDEN (June 27): Tom Tarbox, 74, of Camden began training to become a Navy SEAL even before the SEALs were officially formed. Before the present day SEALs there were UDTs, or underwater demolition teams. The UDTs began training in June 1943 in preparation for the D-Day invasion in Normandy, France. Their efforts were originally focused on demolitions and mine disposal.
Thomas N. Tarbox was born March 7, 1935, in Montana. "My father loved initials," said Tarbox. "The 'N' doesn't stand for anything, he just liked that my initials were TNT. I used to tell people that 'N' stood for 'nothing.'" Tarbox graduated from high school in 1953 and from the University of Colorado in 1957 with a bachelor of arts in geography.
He then enrolled in Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I., and started UDT training. At the time there were no careers in UDT, so he left and went back to the University of Colorado and started studying to become a journalist. In the summer of 1962 he got a call from a friend telling him about the SEALs. His friend told him SEAL stood for "sink enemy and leave."
He left school and enrolled in basic training in Little Creek, Va. Officers and enlisted men train side by side to become SEALs. SEAL actually stands for "sea, air and land," and the training is considered by many military experts to be the toughest training in the world.
At
the time basic training lasted for four months. It was very physically
demanding, Tarbox said. "We ran everywhere. There was a lot of swimming and
the instructors constantly harass you."
The harassment is necessary to see if a man is going to break when things get
tough, Tarbox said.
There were 91 men in his class when it started, but only 20 finished. "I was confident I could make it through," said Tarbox. "I would look at the next guy and think if he can make it then so can I."
Tarbox said men who are afraid of the water or heights or who are claustrophobic won't make it. "I'm a strong swimmer, " he said. "I did a lot of swimming with my brother when I was young.
A man may drop out of the course at any time, Tarbox said. To do this a man strikes a brass ship's bell three times and places his helmet down on the ground. Most classes lose about 80 percent of their trainees due to dropouts or injuries. Tarbox said winter dropout rates are higher due to the cold, and he was lucky his class was in the summer.
Tarbox did make it through and was eventually named commander of the Basic Underwater Demolitions/SEAL (BUD/S) instructors.
The only time Tarbox ever lost a man was in May 1965 in a skydiving accident. "When you skydive, a man who is free falling will wave his arms to let other skydivers know that he is going to open his parachute," Tarbox said. For some reason Melvin Melochick, a man in his late 20s, did not do this, Tarbox said. The man above Ochick, Jerry Todd, fell into Ochick's chute, which caused it to malfunction. Ochick died of a broken neck.
"He was my teammate," Tarbox said.
In 1971 Tarbox volunteered for service in Vietnam. The SEALs were initially deployed in and around Da Nang, training and supporting the South Vietnamese in naval special warfare, including reconnaissance and combat diving.
Much of what Tarbox did during his career is still classified, he said. His son Wit, who lives in Tuscon, Ariz., said of his father, "He didn't go into details of what he did or where he was doing it. He's a man of honor and never shared anything that wasn't to be shared."
Doc,
Frank Cleary
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From: elsonfamily
To: Doc Riojas
Subj: THE PASSING OF CAPT TNT TAROX. I
SHARE THIS WITH MANY WHO NEVER KNEW HIM BUT SHOULD BE SAD THEY DIDN'T Trash
Date:Nov 8
Rio,
YESTERDAY I RECEIVE A NOTE, A VERY SAD NOT FROM ONE OF MY HEROES AND FAVORITE
PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, RICK WOOLARD. THERE ARE FEW AROUND LIKE RICK. ONE OF THE
BEST TEAM GUYS EVER WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE SENIOR OFFICER IN THE COMMUNITY. HE
LOVES THE TEAMS, THE PEOPLE, A MOST LOYAL FRIEND, GREAT FAMILY MAN WHO HAS A
WONDERFUL FAMILY. ON 11NOV, VET’S DAY, GARY SINISE WILL AIR A SHOW HE
PRODUCED, A FACTUAL, NO BS, NO RAH-RAH CRAP ABOUT THE TEAMS AND THEIR HISTORY.
RICK WOOLARD WILL APPEAR IN THAT. WE WILL BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ATLANTIC AND
NOT GET TO SEE IT, BUT I’LL FIND IT WHEN I GET HOME.
AS I SAID, I GOT A NOTE FROM RICK, WHICH HE SENT TO MANY OTHERS ANNOUNCING THE
PASSING OF CAPT TNT (TARBOX). SINCE THEY ARE OF SIMILAR CHARACTER AND TOP
QUALITY, IT WAS APPROPRIATE AND APPRECIATED TO HAVE RECEIVED THE NEWS FROM RICK.
CAPT TARBOX, WHOSE NAME IS TOM TARBOX, BUT HAD THE “N” ADDED SO HE COULD BE
“TNT” WAS AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING MAN. OLD, OLD TEAM GUY WITH MANY COMMANDS
UNDER HIS BELT. I THINK HIS LAST TOUR WAS AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JCS. NO
MAN LOVED THE TEAMS AND TEAM GUYS ANYMORE THAN CAPT TARBOX. I FIRST MET HIM
AFTER VN AND I WENT BACK INTO THE TEAMS AND TO BUD/S. HE WAS THE DIRECTOR/CO. I
HAD PULLED A TENDON OFF MY RIGHT FOOT THURSDAY OF HELL WEEK BUT I FINISHED
WHINIG A LOT.
GOT
INTO BUD/S FOR PT ON MONDAY MORNING I WHINED ABOUT MY FOOT AND THE INSTRUCTORS
TOLD ME TO SHUT UP AND GO BACK TO PT. I GUESS THE CRYING AND DANCING ON ONE FOOT
FORCED THEM TO SEND ME TO BALBOA NAVAL HOSPITAL WHERE I WAS DIAGNOSED AND PUT IN
A CAST. THANK GOD, NO MORE COLD WATER FOR A WHILE. I WENT BACK TO BUD/S AND WAS
SITTING OUT FRONT WITH MY WIFE. FINALLY THIS SHORT, POWERFUL, POWDERKEG CAPT
WALKED BYE. HE LOOKED AT ROSEANNE AND THEN ME. WITHOUT A CHANGE OF EXPRESSION,
HE SAID, “NO ONE LIKES A GIMP, MR ELSON” AND WALKED OFF.
WE DID NOT CROSS PATHS TILL NEAR THE END OF MY CAREER. I WAS OPS OFFICER OF THE
NAVY RED TEAM AND WE LOST OUR CO TO ANOTHER JOB. CAPT TARBOX CAME OFF OF
RETIREMENT TO TAKE THE POSITION AND I FLEETED UP TO XO. ONE OF THE BEST THINGS
TO HAPPEN TO ME. NO ONE WAS BETTER TO WORK FOR AND NO ONE HAD A BIGGER HEART.
SMART, TRUSTING, AND A WONDERFUL LEADER AND PERSON, IT WAS ONE HELL OF AN
EXPERIENCE. I CAME TO LOVE AND ADMIRE HIM MORE EVERY DAY AND WHEN WE RETIRED
STAYED CLOSE FRIENDS HE WAS TRULY A GENTLE SOUL, EXCEPT WHEN DRIVING. I’D BE
DRIVING DOWN THE INDIAN HEAD HIGHWAY AND I’D SEE THIS LITTLE BROWN CAR COMING
BEHIND ME DARTING IN AND OUT OF LANES AND THEN GO ZOOMING BY ME. ALL I COULD SEE
WAS THIS HEAD WITH SHORTCUT HAIRCUT. HE WAS A DEMON ON THE ROADS. SO WHEN WE ALL
WENT OVER TO BSR IN W. VA. FOR ANTI-TERRORISM DRIVING, THE INSTRUCTORS PUT US
INTO A CAR TOGETHER. THEY QUICKLY REGRETTED IT. WE HAD MORE FUN, DOING J-TURNS
AND BOOTLEGS, AND KNOCKING OTHER CARS OFF THE TRACK.
AT THE END HE AND HIS WIFE, ALSO A RETIRED NAVY CAPT, SORT OF WITHDREW FROM THE
COMMUNITY UP TO MAINE AND BECAME SOMEWHAT RECLUSIVE. I KEPT SAYING I’D GIVE
HIM A CALL SOON, BUT ONCE AGAIN, DIDN’T. WE HAVE LOST SOME GREAT EARLY TEAM
GUYS THIS YEAR — MY VN PLATOON CHIEF MASTER CHIEF TOM BLAIS AND NOW CAPT
TARBOX. THESE ARE REAL MEN, HEROES, WHO SERVED WELL AND DID A LOT FOR THEIR
COUNTRY. OUR COUNTRY AND OUR MILITARY IS BETTER FOR THEM HAVING LIVED. I MISS
THEM BOTH AND SO DO ALL WHO KNEW THEM.
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Webmaster's Note: In THE BLAST, journal of NAval Special Warfare, Spring 2015 . Vol. 47, No. 1 Tom T. T. is honored and his ST-2 plankowner photo is on the cover of the Magazine.
Who is Rudy Boesch? go here to find out: http://www.nightscribe.com/Military/SEALs/Command_Master_Chief_Rudy_Boesch_In_Dress_Blues.htm
Rudy Boesch
RADM Karl J. Christoph, Jr., USN RET. R.I.P.
Rear Admiral Karl J. Christoph Jr. passed away on October 10, 2014. His memorial mass will be held at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church on Tuesday, November 4th at 11:00 am. He will be buried at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis.
(excerpts) from RADM Karl J. Christoph, Jr., USN RET.
After graduating from the Naval Academy I spent three years on a destroyer. My
first CO was an obnoxious jerk who couldn't find his butt with either hand. I
would do anything to get out from under his command. I volunteered to be a CEC
officer. That was turned down. I turned in my resignation, but the CO refused to
forward it. Finally I saw message come in asking for volunteers for UDT. I
didn't the foggiest idea what UDT was, but if it would get off that ship, so be
it. I was surprised that I was allowed to stay with Team One. When I reported in
I had a broken hand in a hard cast from playing basketball, and my first request
was to be allowed a couple days off to study for the five-day promotion exam to
LTJG that was coming up in two weeks. Not the greatest way to start out with a
new command.
His service in his own words:
The son of Rear Admiral K. J. Christoph, himself a pioneer in amphibious
operations in World war II, he was also a descendent of one of the pioneers of
Coronado, Alvin B. Daniels. Admiral Christoph was raised in Southern California,
graduated from Severn School in Severna Park, Maryland before attending the
Naval Academy, where he graduated in 1947. In addition to serving as a platoon
officer in UDT-1 and UDT-4, he served on the following ships: USS Buck, USS Kula
Gulf, USS Block Island, and USS Baur. He commanded USS Pluck, USS Jonas Ingram,
USS W E Pratt, USS Kansas City, Amphibious Squadron Three, Cruiser Destroyer
Group Three, and Amphibious Group Two.
He was extremely proud of the fact that he was one of the very few officers who
had command in all four elements of the Surface Navy: the Mine Force, Service
Force, Cruiser- Destroyer Force, and Amphibious Force.
Although he always considered himself first and foremost a
Surface Warfare Officer, or "ship driver," Admiral Christopher
participated in operations that would change the course of special warfare in
the Navy. Assigned to Underwater Demolition Team ONE in 1950, he was awaiting
training when the Korean War commenced. Since the team was short of officers, it
was decided to take him along rather than wait for the training class to begin.
He participated in commando type raids against rail targets in North Korea
before the Inchon assault. One night, during a beach reconnaissance, Christoph
was trapped behind a beach south of Inchon. Most members of the team returned to
the ship safely, but Christoph had to work his way around the enemy before
finding a shot-up, half inflated, rubber boat, and with several others, escaped
safely to the USS Horace A. Bass. So confused was the situation that when he
returned to the states the following year, he found many of his friends had
heard he had been lost that night.
He also recounted that one night when they had gone ashore on the east coast of
North Korea to blow up a railroad tunnel, they found a local guard at the tunnel
entrance. When the guard saw them, he threw his weapon away and ran down the
track as fast as he could. He was so surprised us that no shots were fired. When
they retrieved his gun, they found it was merely a wooden stick shaped like a
rifle with a crude bayonet fashioned on the end. "No wonder he ran off so
fast!." said Christoph.
While loading the tunnel mouth with explosives, three trains came through. The
Team regretted not rigging a booby trap on the rails to explode and derail the
train while it was in the tunnel. As it was, everyone held their breath worrying
that trains would stop and troops would come after them alerted by the guard.
However nothing of the sort happened, and the tunnel blew without incident.
These operations demonstrated for the first time that frogmen could consistently
operate beyond the high water mark and deep into enemy territory. This was
revolutionary in the employment of Underwater Demolition Teams in unconventional
warfare and planted the seed for the development of future SEAL operations. He
later served in UDT-4 in Norfolk VA where he provided the East Coast teams with
the benefit of his experiences in Korea and they provided him with further
training in submersible operations, and he discovered the delights of training
in St. Thomas, VI.
Like all regular Navy officers of the time, his service in the teams was limited
to three years.
http://www.1950sfrogmen.com/vol4/vol4lets5.htm
Adm. Bill McRaven"Hook 'em Horns! Erasmo"Doc"
Riojas
Hoo Yah! "DEEP DIVING" DIECKS
On Fri, Jan 9, 2015 Bob Diecks
diecks38 @ xtra.co.nz
wrote:
WHAT'S UP DOC?
Guess who?
Here we go; Jackie Lee, Delta Platoon, 67,, ST-1,,, Moses Marquez,, Kilo platoon
ST-1 69 ?,,, UDT-12 Doc.."Don't spemd too much time on the shitter or a
mortor will get you, Don't remember name. Doc Beaver w/cigar,, UDTRA class 29
staff Doc... Sorry about that Doc,, I hit the wrong key and lost it all,,, VN's
are Duck and Moanie,, ex-field grade capt VC,, worked with Kilo platoon,, was
kia on brake in op..It was suggested that as platoon LPO I take the op,, I flat
turned it down because of Gene Tinnen and Curtis Williams,,, our J.O was
directed to take it... Young Lt Jg Dave.... I tried to talk him out of it..But
he was high pressured by our Lt OIC and the Black shoe CDR of Sea Float,,,, They
said if he couldn"t handle the job they would send him home... Shortly
after insurtition the two platoons encircled each other and took each other
under fire.. The rest is too painful vto talk abour,, But peapol ask, "How
Are you ??? I always reply,,"Glad to be alive"
Jackie Kee,, Boot Camp Photo,,#2 M
ses Marquez Kilo Plt Sea Float, 69..UDT-12 Corpsman Doc Beaver UDTRA class 29 training dive.. .The VN hugging Mone,, Duck, KIA'ed as point man on a brake in op,, when LTJG Dave (it will come to me),, KIA'ed on a brake in op,, I as LPO refused to take the brake in op as it sounded just like a Jean Tinnen op where my good friend CCurtis Williams almost went down as well.. I'mv looking on my past e-mails for your posting address,, I'm sending you a CD,, Go off by yourself and listen to it,, Try not to cry;
"Thanks for all you've done for all of us DOC" DEEP DIVING"
Doc;
Not sure who the diver on the safety line is, although I took the photo while
using a diesel boats services to conduct lock in and outs for FNG's,, I was SM!
then and in the DV locker ST-1, At the time I was running the show... Have many
more SDV & Sub-ops photos..
Hoo Yah, Deep Diving"
DEEP DIVING DIECKS
From: Bob Diecks
To: Tom Frank Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2015
Subject: Photograph
Frank;
Hope all came thru and right side up.. The last one is for you,,,I've many
more,, I guess the little 16 mm camra I used to carry on my dog tag chain paid
off in the end...
As soon as I work out this machine I'll pass more on to our Vietnam Vets and
Frogman Friday,,
And Doc Rieo as well.... Hope these photos help Dee's Family work things out,,,
The one thing I realy remember is the bloody big snake he brought home in a sack
in Delta Plt's gun box,,, Bolldy big bugger too,, in the end it excaped in
Coronado and was never seen again...
Glad to help...
Hoo Yah Deep Diving Diecks "Down in New Zealand"
Doc;
I sent you a wee bit of post today,, Lets see just how long it takes to arrive
in The Lone Star State ?? More to follow... I hade the lady at the post office
put some lovely NZ stamps on it for you or any kids you know that collect
stamps... I think you asked how old I am,, 01 April 1940,, 75 and remember where
I was on V-E & V-J day..... I'll be changing to diecks38@gmail.com very
soon... All's well here with our family,, Take care mate
Hoo Yah Deep Diving
Doc;
Thats a roger,, Berry,,, Ted Cassa and Jumping Joe Jenkins,, Had not seen
jumping Joe since BMCS George Rush's Wake,, George was NCDU,,UDT-12,, I bought
my yacht ARMOREL from George & Jan,, We called her mother "FROG"
This reunion must of been in early 85 as I drove up from The Baja B.C.S. for
it,, and on April 05 0f 85 I sailed out of Mexico after five years for Tahita....
That was the last time I saw Leon Rauch,, He was walkinf with atick,, when I
asked him about it ??? He gave me a bloody great wallop with it... When I was
running my Sports SCUBA classes at US NTC I qualified his Son as a diver...
Its a bloody long string and we"re all laced together "Brother",,
"HOO YAH DEEP DIVING" P,S, The other fellow is Ted Cassa,, I next saw
him when he came down tyo N.Z. to visit Dave (Jolly Green Giant) Bodkin just
agter my son ODIN wAS BORN AND dAVE & sHARON WERE ANCHORED IN mANGONUI WITH
US...
Bob Diecks via yahoo.com
Doc;
Received your msg & links,, Tks,, Good J-O-B,, How did you hook up with the
Poway FRA ??
I sent them some info because they have been sending me their news letter each
month,,, And I don't know how that got started...
So about Armorel, Which is the Celtic meaning of Sea Princess,, I retired on 17
Sept 76 and on 05 Jan of 77 I bought Armorel from George Rush,, BMCS NCDU/UDT-12,,
George & Jan Rush (Mother Frog) were members of the CYC,, George & Jan
had just returned from a five year cruise down to The Cannal Zone,, Thru Mexico
and return
I bought the boat,, Joined the CYC and moved aboard...In the early 80's I sailed
out passed Pt Loma,, turned right and went down to the Sea Of Cortez for a few
years of Diving and fishing,,,
05 April I departed The Baja for Tahita and the islands of the South West
Pacificd,, Cooks,,Tonga,, Fiji and on to New Zealand, arriving on 09 Dec of 85..
.I spent the first two years going thru a complete rebuild of Armorel and after
that sailing out to Manerva Reef and Tonga every april and returning to N.Z. in
December to avoid cyclones in the Islands,, But thats another sea story,, I'd
like to write a book "Trails Thru The South Pacific"
One year in The Kingdom Of Tonga I met up with Jerry Fletcher,,, The USS John R.
Bruton ships Capt & Crew on The King og Tongas 50th Birthday... But thats
another sea story..
I traveled to Mother England to meet past owners of Armorel,, Got invited to The
Royal London Yacht Club on Cows Day by Lady Heath and met Big Ears HRH himself
who was the Comodor of the RLYC...I've had a good time of it because of Armorel,,,
She was once owned by Glenn Yraghboure of the lime lighters,,, His first boat..
He still is in the music business and posts me his latest discs... I can send
you a video disc of Armorel sailing from Mother England to San Francisco in
1959,,
Send my your posting Address... So I've said too much and am boreing tou to
tears old timer.....
You asked how I got the name Deep Diving ?? When I learn a bit more about this
machine I'll pass you some paperwork to back up the story..
Take Care Team Mate
Thanks again for your efforts
Hoo Yah Deep Diviong Diecks Take Care Team Mate
May31,2015
To: Doc Rio From: D.D. D. Deep Diving Diecks
Doc I hope you get my package with the CD and the pictures. In Armdrel's Cockpit
I am anjoying a cigar from "the Manila Hotel R.P.I. On my private 4 ton
mooring, Mangonvi Harbcure, Far North, N.Z. Note: The Big bronze bell was made
for Armorel in S.P.F. Subic Bay. Manufactured of old silver peso's in the
casting. My son's God Father, Frank Blackstons had it made for us. He was 2nd
engineer aboard a USNS ammo ship out of subic. This bay was where we also spend
Christmas with Dave And Sharon Bodkin when Odin was born on 06 Dec 1997. Ted and
Helen Kassa also came down by air to visit Dave and Helen. The bellsmith won 3d
place, World champ for tone in Switzerland. I always rign out 8 slow bells for
the passing of a Teamate. Bob Diecks
Pictures from Bob "Deep DIve Diecks" Diecks from Vietnam War Games
Lt. Robert Peterson ST-2
PBR Sailor a VN interpreter name: Rio.
email: 21Jun2015 RIO, I can not recall the events these photos
depict. The only PBR sailor I remember we used on ops was Ray Price, I thinks
that is him in the photo but not sure. Jim West is not a name I recall. We
should of had a platoon scribe keep a record.
Robert "Pete" LT Peterson
Chuck Jesse and Doc Riojas
Fred Keener
SEAL K-9 Interpreter too
Minh, VN interpreter
Roberts and Claude Willits
ST1 and ST2
Bob Diecks
Claude Willits
c
Cheer's Bob (Deep Diving) Diecks USN-ret..
On Wed, Oct 28, 2015 Jack Strandquist <jack [at] strand3d.com> wrote:
"Cheer's Bob (Deep Diving) Diecks USN-ret..
Bob Diecks, I'm hoping this is your email address. I found it on the Seal Team Two web site.
You were my NAUI instructor (#3390) in San Diego in 1976. I was just another face, but you did a great job and it influenced the rest of my professional life. At that time I was a young ensign undergoing training prior to landing on my first ship, a destroyer escort, but after your SCUBA class I decided to investigate becoming a navy diver, and in 1979 I was admitted to the Naval School, Diving & Salvage, in Washington, DC, the last class before the school was officially closed (a new school was opened in Panama City, FL about a year later).
My experience in dive school, especially the salvage training, and my subsequent experience on a tender convinced me to pursue a career as an engineer. Thanks for being one of those early, positive influences in a young person's life.
I hope you are still enjoying your own life and doing well.
Sincerely,
Jack Strandquist
Berthoud, Colorado www.linkedin.com/in/strandquist
Date: Fri, Oct 30, 2015
From: Bob Vasmer-Diecks
To: Jack Strandquist
Subject: Hi!
Jack;
Very Good To Hear from you... I'm still alive and well,, and still diving at 75, I now live in New Zealand with my 18 year son Odin,, British wife Caroline and after 38 years still own our 40 ft. yacht Armorel which I sailed down here from The Sea of Cortez after spend five years there diving and fishing... Sounds as if you've done quite well for yourself,, ""Good On You Mate"" My old Team Mate Doc Rio of Seal Team Two runs the web sight and I check in from time to time with photos from down here on ANZAC Day events,, I still fit in my dress blues and make The Dawn Parade with the old Diggers from The Russell R.S.A. on 24 April..
Thanks for checking in with me and bringing me up to date on your activities,, Keep the good news coming Jack..
WEBMASTER NOTE:
Jack Strandquist graduated from the last class at D.S.D.S. US naval gun factory Wash D.C. ! Doc rio graduated in class 4/55 ! Erasmo "Doc" Riojas I was an HM2 at that time.
Dave Cooper
http://business.financialpost.com/2014/06/04/keystone-xl-oil-pipeline-bomb-attack/?__lsa=e7d7-a015
Ronald Flockton
John Wilbur and Frank Scollise
"Bud" Thrift and Bill Langley
LLCDR McNally
Chris Bent and Wife
Franklin "Andy" Anderson ST-1 SEALs getting P.U.C. from L.B.J.
Michael S. Suter
shamburger AND rinney ST-2
UDT-3 3d Platoon, Korea 1950
1st Row: Holland, Taylor, Voltmer, Crane
2nd Row: CPO Mateer, Durham, FrSchmidt
, Michael, Vasquez, Walker, Parks Sturgis, Adams, CPO Keene, LT Johnson
Heben AND judge Jeanine
Lowell Gosser and wife
MinhAND 10thPlt SEAL Team TWO, 'nam: Standing
Top Row: Bob Nidrauer, Big Al Ashton, Terry Sullivan, Jerry Hammerle, Mike
Bailey (Dog Handler) with camera (I think), MINH in front of him, LDNN Be, Al
Quist, Harry Constance, ??, CWO Dale McCloskey (Sp), LDNN?? kneeling: Doc
Patchurich? , LDNN, ??? Fellows?
UDT 12 "Alpha" Platoon in the Phillipines 1974. Laddie Shawe is dead center
Tony Olivera
Tom Keith AND wild Bill
Larry Wilsk
Subic Bay Phillipine Islands
TOP Row: Lt. Pierson, Bobby Joy Atkinson, Robert Carruthers, Frank Watton, Robert HaYes, LT. Kinney MIDDLE ROW: Frank Perry, Joe thrift, Mc Cluski, Mel Weiner, Beaver, Lloyd Cobb BOTTOM ROW: "King" Bassett, "Monk" Holland, Fredricson, Martin Mapes, and Paul McNally
Ron Smith R.I.P.
One of triathlon's pioneers, and a mentor to many during
the sport's e arly days, Ron Smith, died June 29, 2011 . Mike Plant, chronicler
of triathlon's formative years, author of "Iron Will", and Ron Smith's
friend, honors him below. It's hard to speak about Ron Smith in the past tense.
Even on his next
to
last day, none of us would have been surprised to see him swing his feet out
over the side of his hospital bed, stand up, shake out the kinks and stride off
down the hall, with his b are ass hanging out of his gown, trailing tubes and
wires and shedding cancer cells like fleas. No such luck. Ron died this morning,
June 29. As in all he did, he went gracefully, without drama or fanfare. Ron was
the kind of guy you would have wanted your kids to meet. You would have wanted
them to look into those slightly rheumy eyes of his, look into that half
wrecked but still
-
handsome face, and learn how to live. Ron never shrank from a challenge, never
gave an inch, but he also gave everything he had to the people around him. He
treated CEOs and janitors exactly the same – as if they were people. That's
all. People. He wasn't a corporate guy not because he didn't have the brains or
the talent, but because his heart was too big. He cared too much ab out being
down in the trenches with the crew, hands
on helping, making sure things were done just right. Don't get me wrong, Ron
could lead; he could, and did, command with authority, but I know that somewhere
down deep, he probably figured that if you cou ldn't do it in flip
flops or running shoes it wasn't worth doing. Wing tips, business suits and
boardroom politics were ridiculously not his style. In case you don't know the
story, Ron was an early man into the Chart House restaurant chain, and he made a
chunk of money, lived in a big house in Rancho Santa Fe. But when he lost pretty
much everything in a financial scandal not of his own making, he went from
living in luxury to living out of his Volkswagen van, pretty much overnight and,
thing is, you wou ld not have known one Ron from the other because there truly
was no difference. The van was big enough for his bike and his workout gear and
from that point on it was all good. This for sure: you'd want Ron on your team.
For anything. He would never let you down. He used a crude term that he must
have picked up in his UDT days that I found compelling: "When the shit gets
brown..." Whenever I was with Ron, I knew that when the shit got brown he
would be there. He would walk through fire and ice for a friend, and I think
it's fair to say we would all do the same for him. Way to go Big Man. You did
well. Publisher's notes: I found out about Ron Smith's passing earlier today. He
was 77. I struggled, wondering how I was going to write about this. And then
Mike Plant dropped me the above, unsolicited, and solved my problem. Mike, you
wrote it perfect, and much better than I or anyone could've.
Kirk Alan Anthony R.I.P.
Kirk Alan Anthony, 56,
Born: July 10, 1957Place of Birth: Lawton, OK died on 29 May 2014 in
Cedar Park, Texas. Kirk graduated BUD/S Training with Class 133
in Coronado on 12 July 1985 and served in SEAL Team
ONE.
x
In Loving Memory of
SO1 (Navy SEAL) Patrick Delaney Feeks
“ Cry Havoc, let slip the frogs of war!”
K. I. A.
Patrick and Emily Feeks
Patrick and Emily Feeks
'
Feeks was killed when a U.S. military helicopter crashed
during a firefight with insurgents in southern Afghanistan. He will be buried
Wednesday at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Patrick D. Feeks of Edgewater was among seven
Americans and four Afghans killed in the helicopter crash northeast of Kandahar,
Afghanistan on Aug. 16.
Feeks is survived by his parents and wife.
Feeks, Thomas M CIV USNA Annapolis
1June 2014
Thanks so much for putting the tribute to Pat up on your web site. Pat
would be very pleased. Approval from his SEAL brothers was the only praise
he would accept. Pat wife Emily is also in the Navy. She is a CTR1 who has been
in for about 15 years. She was assigned to Support Activity One (SA1) supporting
NSW when she and Patrick met.. She had deployed to Afghanistan and the PI.
She left SA1 last October and is currently at Special Operations Command in Tampa Fl. the Community has been fabulous in supporting her as a NSW Sailor and a Gold Star Spouse. It has been tough all the way around. Our daughter Regina is a Navy LT assigned to the USS Gridley (DDG 101) as the Damage Control Assistant. She graduated from the Naval Academy in 2010 and has been assigned to surface ships in San Diego ever since.
I spent 28 years in the Navy as an aviator, mainly flying P-3 aircraft. I retired in 2000 and went to work at the Naval Academy where I have taught and worked for the last 14 years. So we are a real Navy family and understand what Service means. But the loss of Patrick hit us all pretty hard. He had a boundless supply of energy and a presence even when he was a kid. The Teams refined this and gave him a real sense of direction and purpose. Thank you again for the coins and keeping his memory alive.
Regards, Tom
Feeks, Thomas M CIV
USNA Annapolis <feeks [at] usna DOT edu>
Found another picture you might like. Pat joined the Sea
Cadets in 1997 when we were living in Rochester, NY (I was CO of the NROTC
Unit at the University of Rochester). In 1999 the Sea Cadets offered a 3
week Mini-BUD/S summer training program in Little Creek. It coincided with
the East Coast Reunion. The Cadets were invited and got to meet some of
the notable figures in the SEAL community. Pictured is Pat with Dick Marcinko.
Pat met Dick again in 2005 at a signing for one of his books. Pat
had the picture to be signed and we all laughed because Dick was wearing the
same shirt.
Regards, Tom FeeksRegards, Tom Feeks
Patrick and Emily Feeks
In Loving Memory of
SO1 (Navy SEAL) Patrick Delaney Feeks
“ Cry Havoc, let slip the frogs of war!”
K. I. A.
YES, WE DID! Boehner announces special
committee on Benghazi - See more at:https://specialoperationsspeaks.com/index#sthash.kuarGfGA.dpuf
https://specialoperationsspeaks.com/index
YES, WE DID! WE DID IT! Thank you for 2 years of your support and hard work...
NOW IT BEGINS! Just today, Speaker of the House John Boehner announced that he will allow
the House to vote on forming a Select
Committee on Benghazi, saying:
“Americans learned this week that the Obama Administration is so intent on
obstructing the truth
about Benghazi that it is even willing to defy subpoenas issued by the standing committees of the
People's House. - State Department scandals were ignored or swept under the rug while
Hillary Clinton served as Secretary of State,
critics say. Photo: AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
“What difference, at this point, does it make?”
Hillary Clinton famously and furiously demanded to know during Senate
questioning about the
Benghazi attack. That was last year, and finally, we’re getting some hints about the answer.
Thomas E Retze
MASTER CHIEF TOM BLAIS -- a personal view and assessment
04May 2014 4:13 PM , Virginia Beach, Virginia
From: Steve Elson
to: TO MY MANY TEAMMATES AND FRIENDS, WHETHER
WE HAVE MET OR NOT -
BAND OF BROTHERS WHO SHARE A GREAT ADMIRATION AND LOVE FOR ONE OF OUR LONG TIME
TEAM LEGENDS --
DMCM TOM BLAIS
I talked with Eva (who used to baby-sit our own daughter some 35 years ago)
about a week ago; she told me her Dad had been moved from the unassisted care
side of his apartment building to the assisted care side. I know many of you
have seen the sitreps coming out and while very well written and informative, I
got a different impression of where the Chief is living and how he is doing
emotionally as well as physically.
Chief Blais is a SEAL Team icon and legend as we all know. He has some unique
qualities to say the least and while he means different things to all of us, I
reckon we each share our own special view of and relationship with him. He had
the unique quality of being able to read people well and tailor, especially to
those in his training classes, his own individualized brand of
"torture" to help weed out those who didn't belong and to develop
those who did. I personally am glad I was NOT in his class; he probably wouldn't
have tolerated all my whining. He was a Godsend as our VN Plt Chief. He did a
lot to help me grow up (sometimes disputed by my wife, kids, and friends) and
became part surrogate father, mentor, protector, and dearest friend.
Since we moved out west in 2008, I haven't been back to VA Beach in several
years when the Chief was still living on his own near the Creek, ignoring his
many injuries, and charging along he was wont to do. We have talked frequently
over the intervening years. So when Eva explained his situation, I knew I had to
go up and see The Chief. I flew up to BWI landing at 0100, rented a car and
drove all night down to VA Beach, and spent all day,and part of the evening as
well as few hours the following morning with the Chief. Eva had described his
condition pretty accurately but somehow I hadn't been able to shake the vision
in my mind that he would be in bed with tubes and IVs in him, sleeping most of
the time, and uncomfortable. Eva did say that he was doing well, happy,
laughing, and enjoying the many visits of old Frogs and SEALs. But the
impression of a subdued and withering Chief lingered on haunting and greatly
saddening me. To be honest, I was somewhat apprehensive about the visit.
I had quite an uplifting surprise walking into his room, finding him sitting on
the bed, proffering that Chief Blais strong handshake, a big laugh, and typical
Chief Blais greeting. No tubes, no medicine, and pretty much nothing obviously
"medical" or life sustaining excepting oxygen nasal cannulas. He was
lucid, talking, gesticulating, and seemed to be having a great time. As Eva had
described, he said this was one of the happiest and best times of his life. A
morning phone call from one of his Class 38 trainees and one of my all time
heroes, Rick Woolard started the morning off with a laugh and good feeling.
Rick is so sincere and such a strong person that his
messages convey. People are calling from all over the world, literally. The word
"hospice" had conjured up some pretty frightening images. So for those
who haven't had the opportunity or good fortune to visit the Chief and are
concerned about his environment and state, I'd like to share a few vignettes of
each. Some of the e-mails I have seen are very informative and well-written but
don't quite capture the feeling of warmth, happiness, and fun I experienced
while there. A couple times, I saw the Chief quietly talking and laughing with
each of his daughters, Eva's wonderful husband, and grand kids. I left for those
were private moments. Of course, I stayed when other old Teammates came to
visit.
The Chief lives in a beautiful apartment building in a square shape with one
side assisted living (where he now resides) and the other unassisted. It is a
great place http://www.kiscoseniorliving.com/senior_living/Virginia_Beach_VA/zip_23451/kisco_senior_living/5768
-- clean, beautifully decorated, warm, and staffed by
truly caring folks, from the people who perform the janitorial duties to the
food prep folks, and other care givers. I didn't really see many
"medical" people and there was nothing that smacked of my view of
"hospice" care.
All day long there was a constant stream of people, some of them like Herschel (who comes daily and who I haven't seen in years), rolling through. Talking, laughing, BSing, and just having a good time. Crazy Herschel D. is great medicine as are others the others I saw: Ken McDonald, Harry Coleman or one I never met - Randy Wise; it seemed like most of the First Colonial Staff came into hug the Chief (mostly woman) daily and spend some time talking/laughing with him. As you would expect, the Chief's presence is well known to most of the staff.
When I came through the side entrance, I passed through
the first door and then had to press a button and put my face on camera where I
was asked who I was and what I wanted. When I told the lady I was coming to
visit MC Blais, she started laughing told me to tell him that Norma sent a big
hug. These are NOT hospital rooms, but actual apartments - very nice, roomy,
clean, and comfortable. Residents on both sides of the facility decorate their
outside doors and apartments as they wish. Many have a dried floral arrangement
on the door and one resident has a lot of American Flags and "Support Our
Troops" stickers all over the door. The halls are attractive and soothing.
Naturally, the Chief's door looked like the entrance to a SEAL museum -- the
inside even more so. His living room has a TV and pictures of his family. There
is a corner with religious artifacts. And there are UDT/SEAL pictures and
memorabilia everywhere. I loved looking at his plaque from his entering the UDT
Training Class in 1947 and then going to UDT 2, UDT 21, and finally ST-2. Also
many don't realize that he went through UDT Training Classes 4 and 16. He
briefly got out of the Navy and when he came back, they made him go through
twice. To the best of my knowledge, that makes him even more unique in the
community.
Daughter EVA and me
(After I saw this picture, I realised that the Chief looks healthier and better
than I, even though I am just a kid.)
I had expected to get a few waking moments with The Chief during the day between
hours of napping. There was no napping and it was GREAT spending so much time
reminiscing and BSing. The Chief's memory (excepting a few moments of
"Where the hell did that damn word go?" that I have all the time) is
amazing. I wish he HAD forgotten some of the incidents. Had a few times when
talked seriously about life, its meaning, good and bad things we had done, his
wonderful family, and the tragedies experienced. He thinks he had a heart
attack, loves his doctor, talks about getting better, working out, breaking
boards with his feet, and yes (surprise) chasing younger (40, 50, 60??) women.
He is the same of ebullient, self-confident, crazy, confidence-inspiring, and
fun-loving Chief we all remember and love.
We did talk about the end of life whenever it comes and how important it is to enjoy every moment and all your family and friends -- which he is doing. In the end I left a satisfied and happy man knowing how well he is doing and how much he is enjoying the calls, cards, and visits from his many friends and admirers. I was sad to have missed Rick Woolard who, perforce, was out of town and I would have loved to been there when our VN Plt Commander Bill Gardner (I haven't seen him since VN) visited. But it is gratifying to know so many care and remember that "love of our fellow Teammates is so strong. Medically, it seems almost impossible that the Chief will get up and leave the room -- to break boards or chase woman. But who the hell knows?
The Chief never let minor things like the difficult or
impossible get in his way. Whatever happens and when it happens, he seems to
have made peace within himself, loves his immediate family as well as his UDT/SEAL
family, and when he does go, there is little reason to be sad except we won't
get to see or talk to him in person. He is one of those rare people in our lives
who will ALWAYS remain within us. Many of the things I have accomplished are in
some part due to his influence on and caring for me. Few have accomplished as
much for so many special folks as has he.
Don't hesitate to call him and harass him like Herschel or just talk a bit. He
loves it and keeps him going. Make every moment of his life, however long,
moments of joy and friendship.
I was honored and so very happy I got to see the Chief, talk with him, laugh, be
rude and crude, and in the end hug him and tell him I love him. These days,
rather than sad, dreary or depressing, are a celebration of the amazing life of
a Great MAN! I thought I was going up to say "Goodbye" and go for his
benefit. In the end, I realised he did far more for me than I for The Chief.
Steve Elson
LCDR Ret. SEAL
Tom Blais
David M. Tapper
LT John "Jack" Lynch R.I.P.
Pres. Bush, V.Pres. Dick Cheney, SEAL "wheels" & Roy Boehm
Navy SEAL Thom Shea
The Incredibly Touching Thing
a Navy SEAL Says Kept Him Alive During a Deadly Battle: ‘I
Thought I Was Dead or Alone’
Apr. 21, 2014
Elizabeth Kreft
Thom Shea
Thom Shea
Dave Hall, U.S.
Navy SEAL
Outrageous video: Injured
Navy SEAL berated on his own porch as he lowers American
flag May 6, 2014 by Cheryl Carpenter Klimek
A Navy SEAL veteran has released shocking video surveillance of a
neighbor berating him while taking down his flag on his own porch.
David Hall of Virginia Beach served for 21 years, suffering a severe leg injury
in Iraq in 2004. Since a homeowners’ association dispute a few years ago, Hall
says the neighbor harasses him relentlessly. Hall
posted the video to YouTube to shed light on the way
veterans are treated.
Robert "Bob" Marine Wood R.I.P.
Robert "Bob" Marine Wood, 92, of S. Dennis, MA, died, November 1, 2013. He was born in Brockton on April 18, 1921. His Naval service began at the Great Lakes Naval Station. As a Radioman, he volunteered for BUD/S and served in UDT-1 and UDT-3 during WWII. (UDT is the precursor of the Navy SEALS). His Military Decorations WWII: Bronze Star Medal, Pacific Theater with 1 Star, European African Middle Eastern Campaign with 1 Star, World War II Victory Medal, and the Navy Good Conduct Medal.
Larry Lyons
Chuck Detmer
Donald Tocci Roy Dean Matthews and Kim Matthews
Chuck Jesse Bob Gallagher Roy Dean Matthews and Richard "Hook" Tuure
Michael Jaco
THE INTUITIVE WARRIOR
Eugene Paluso
"Welcome Home" is a new series being produced by Sleeping Dog Productions, Inc. It tells the story of Viet Nam Veterans
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-CTKFzWjjw&sns=em
Navy: SEAL Died
in Dive Full of Safety Lapses
13 comments Honolulu Advertiser | Apr 21, 2014 | by William Cole
The disappearance last year of a Pearl Harbor Navy SEAL who was
spearfishing with other unit members on a training free dive off Kaena Point was
accompanied by sweeping procedural and safety violations, according to the
Navy's investigative report.
Command Master Chief Larry Wilske Command Master Chief Wilske is a combat veteran of the US Navy He is running for United States House of Representatives in Primary Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2014 http://www.larrywilske.com
The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC is endorsing the 90th Combat Veteran For
Congress; he is a fiscally conservative candidate who will work to rein in the
out of control spending by Congress and the Obama Administration, will work to
reduce the national debt, will work toward unleashing the private sector to grow
once again, create jobs, and stimulate private sector business investment.
Command Master Chief Larry A Wilske, USN (Ret) (SEAL) of San Diego, California,
a 30 year Veteran of the US Navy, www.larrywilske.com, is running for the 53rd
Congressional District of California represented by six term Congresswoman Susan
Davis (D-CA-53)
From: Dillard Blancett
Chip I'm sure you recognize
Tractor Dan, I think the big fellow is
Worthington on the left. The guy wearing the mix gas rig is Ron Neal. I
believe the instructor was Schultz.
From: Michael Gustafson
To: Doc Riojas
Here's one from the scrapbook taken many years ago. UDT12's 2nd platoon. —
with Ronnie Faulkner, Mark A. Cummings, Cant Remember, Wayne Waters, Ron Relf,
Daryl Jacob aka Jake, Dave Bantone, Michael Suter, Ken Roper, Mark Shipman,
Randy Albracht, Daryl Chamblee, Wayne Vought, Ross Miller, Gordon Evans, John
Timmerman, Mark Lyle, Harry Arhendt, , Dean Cummings and Doc Shrier.
Dillard Blancett
Apr 30 2014
to Doc Riojas
I’s sorry Doc,
I know I should be more pacific, I’ll try to be more clear.Lt. Dan Mann was Lt. Gill’s XO on the Mighty Mo when Dan was killed on april 7 67. He was just a great guy everybody really liked him, he was in my class#35, Ron Neal same class #35 was killed from same incident, Donald Boston was also killed the same day, I think he was in class #34.
What I was trying to do was send you pictures of some of the team members that I knew that was killed in VN. Some of the pic’s weren’t taken in VN but are the only pic’s I had of them. That pic. Of Dan Mann was probably when we were in training at Coronado, of Boston when we were doing training dive in subic Bay in 66 same with Ron Neals diving Pic.--- the pic.
Where I spoke of the grill, was our only cook out with both Lt. Graham & Lt Gill’s group. The guy in pic. With no shirt on and green pants w/back to camera is chief Ruth, he’s the cook facing the grill in front of him.
I think I have another pic. Of the cook out showing the grill.
We were welcoming Lt. Gill’s group when they got to Nha be by having a cook
out.
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Thu, Apr 10, 2014
From: Dillard Blancett
to: Doc Rio
Forgot to include name of one guy on the sub. The guy in back with hair up in
the air is Frank “Bullitt” Bird. Pics. Of three guys with on sitting was
taken on USS Weiss.
Dillard Blancett
to: Doc Riojas
May 1 1914
to me L to r Chief Ruth/ Gill, seal officer? Guy with towel, Doc. Jones. Some of
these pic. Are Ron Kelmell's. If you want, send him an E Mail and ask if they
can be used-he has some really good ones. rrpopseal@bellsouth.net-. If he says
it's ok-he may want to send them-he'll remember all the names and details. If
that works out then we can all work on it together.
Thanks dillard
Larry Nelson
An original Navy SEAL, Chuck Jesse, recounts experiences November 12, 2013
Wilbur Roy "Pat" Patterson
R.I.P. 1931-2014
Obituary LCDR Wilbur Roy "Pat" Patterson, U.S. Navy
(SEAL) Ret., passed on to smoother seas at age 82 after a long illness.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Alicia Ann Smith Patterson LCDR
Patterson retired in 1974 following twenty-four years of service having served
in USS Mullany (dd-528), Underwater Demolition Teams 4, 21, 22, 13 &
SEAL TeamTWO
He was a decorated Veteran of the Vietnam War.
He was a Third Degree Member of Knights of Columbus Council 10804, Virginia
Beach, VA.
LCDR Patterson entered UDTR Class 11 in Aug. 1953 and graduated Nov. 1953. -
See more at: http://www.hollomon-brown.com/obituary/LCDR-Wilbur-Roy-Pat-Patterson-USN-Ret./
Virginia-Beach-VA/1369453#sthash.aEhwOT5k.iOsAnDMt.dpuf
Wilbur Roy "Pat" Patterson
x
05May2014
To: Doc RIO
From: Jack Detweiler
Subj: RE: LTJG Walter F. Merrrick, II Inbox x Jack Detweiler <jdetweiler1129@att.net>
Dear Doc:
We’ve never met, but I’m trying to track down a classmate of mine from USNA
Class of 1970. I discovered this web page: https://www.sealtwo.org/photoalbum03.htm
…where the following quote appears:
“Doc Riojas, The photo of the monkey and the two other SEALs does not show me
unless you think I am the monkey. They are HMC Charles Hill on the Left and
Frank Czajkowski on the right. It's ok though they were both great operators.
The monkey's name is Wally. He was named in honor of LTjg Walter Merrick our
AOIC of MIKE Platoon at ISB Ben Luc RVN.—John”
I also found a second reference to him at: https://www.warboats.org/mst2bremmer/mst_seals.htm
: Mike Platoon, SEAL Team One (7 Sept 1971 - 7 Dec 1971) -- LT Michael S.
McCrary; LTJG Walter F. Merrick
As none of us in our company have ever been able to contact Wally since
graduation, if you can provide any clarification regarding whether this is the
same “Wally Merrick” I’m looking for, I’d appreciate anything you can
share. At this link: http://www.e-yearbook.com/sp/eybs?school=71&year=1970&s=walter+merrick&sort=1&rpp=15&bSearch=Search+Yearbooks
… Wally’s 1970 photo is in the upper right-hand corner of the first photo
labeled “1970 image 707”
Thanks for any attention you can provide to this matter.
Kind regards,
Jack Detweiler
WEBMASTER: I had to have an account to be able to
access the larger images on the USNA 1970 class photo album. RIO
Jack Detweiler
Date 11May2014
to: Doc Rio and, Doug, John, Maurice, Steve, tommycox
Subj: "Uncle Wallopin" Wally
From USNA 70 yearbook:
"Uncle Wallopin" Wally hails from the backwoods of Tijuana, B.C.
Actually, he's from a small villa to the north called Chula Vista, but this is
merely a rest station.
Wally was known for having borrowed more and returned less than any ten people
in the history of the Academy.
Wally is adept at all sports, but he particularly enjoys scuba diving, skiing,
surfing and wrestling during study hour. He also received his numerals in J.V.
soccer.
Wally will long be remembered as one of the big stinkers of the Thirty-Fifth
Company, and for leaving his head print in the walls of houses from time to
time.
Wally's talents all point to one possible service selection. His ability as a
diver and fighter, and his adventurous spirit combine to foster an avid desire
to become a SEAL.
Guys—just want to thank you all for your assistance.
Although we have (2) good “leads,” we have not yet been able to find Wally.
(1) Wally has a profile on Linkedin at http://www.linkedin.com/pub/walter-merrick/14/133/b59
; one of my classmates who is on Linkedin tried to contact him at TGS
Enterprises in New London; however, his Connect To setting is blocked unless one
also knows his email. So he sent TGS and email and begged for an email address.
(We still don’t know if he is there or not.)
(2) For those who might want a snapshot of what Wally did after departing the
service, I found this profile at http://www.indeed.com/r/Walter-Merrick/ec2c1c7d6df55e68
which had him at the Connecticut Department of State as recently as January 2013
(I even called Middlesex Hospital where he did time as a paramedic—they
confirmed he did work there but don’t know where he is now.)
(3) I also found this reference to Wally at http://www.partnerpoint.com/Company-Directory/Detail/True/UserID/20399.aspx
which provided contact information for: Walter F Merrick (associated with TGS
Enterprises in CT)
55 Riverbend Dr Mystic, CT 06355 Age 66 (Born Apr 1948)
(860) 536-6132(860)
536-6132 (but, this number is not in service)
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Famous Navy SEAL shot in U.S. parking lot Hero drives self while bleeding to get treatment
Christopher Mark Heben
x
&&n
“It was as if someone folded you in half,” Heben, 44, said Wednesday. He was released Tuesday from Akron General Medical Center. The argument, he said, started after a car backed into him as he walked in the parking lot.He said he exchanged words with the car’s driver. The driver, Heben said, told him, “You got a big mouth white boy. You need to learn some [expletive] respect.”Heben said he then told the driver: “Look dude, in my world, you have to earn respect” and offered to “help him out right now.”
When the driver turned to a passenger in the front seat, Heben said, his SEAL instincts told him to “blade” and turn so the front of his body was not exposed. In an instance, he was bent over in pain. “I felt like a mule kick to my stomach,” he said. Heben said his SEAL instincts kicked in, and he gathered himself and jumped into his truck to catch up with the car.“They cruised out, and I got in my car as quick as I can,” he said.
After the two cars left the parking lot and headed north on Cleveland-Massillon Road, Heben realized he was bleeding and put a finger in what he believed to be a bullet hole in his lower abdomen. Heben said he began sweating and his vision became blurry. “I go from seeing stars to looking like I am looking through a lava lamp into a kaleidoscope and obviously I am going into shock,” he said. He realized he could not continue to chase the car and decided he needed to seek help.
He said doctors removed a metal object from his stomach, but
he did not know what type of bullet it was.He said had he been wounded more
seriously, he probably would have called 911 instead of chasing the shooter.
“I was adrenaline fueled and pissed off, and I was definitely on the hunt,”
he said. He said he wanted to at least get a license plate number, which he did
not get, but did manage to get a description of the
car, a gray low-profile sports car with tinted windows and a raised spoiler on
the back.
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CHRIS HEBEN LIED ! READ THIS INVESTIGHATION:
Conservative Navy SEAL Arrested For Fabricating Story About Being Shot By Black Mob
http://kstreet607.com/2014/09/09/conservative-navy-seal-arrested-for-fabricating-story-about-being-shot-by-black-mob/
Navy SEAL Chris Heben was shot in the stomach in a parking lot at 5 PM yesterday by "3 gangbangers" according to his Facebook.
He put a finger in the bullet hole and chased them to get a vehicle description, then drove himself to the hospital. I know this will not receive any attention from the media, so I just wanted to share it with you all.
Christopher Mark Heben
Joel Lambert
Kevin, Lindsey and their son,Lacz,
Movie Actor in "American Sniper"
Adm. Sean A. Pybus
Brad Woodard
Clint Bruce
Daniel J. Cabel
Gary "Doc" Welt R.I.P.
Daniel Cabel
MEMORIAL WALL for Men Killed in SOUTHCOM AOR
SOCSOUTH is building a memorial wall to recognize all the
special ops folks killed in training or operations in SOUTHCOM AOR. We'd like to
be as accurate as we can to ensure all sacrifices are recognized.
We'd like to provide unit, location, date, and a brief description of the event
(i.e. diving accident) and below are some we are some we are missing some info
on. We're hoping some of the team mates out there might be able to fill in some
of the blanks.
SN Raymond Fauls Jr., died in Puerto Rico in 1964 (questions - unit, date of
death, cause of death)
CM2 Robert Fleming, died St. Thomas 1965, (questions- unit, date of death, cause
of death)
GMG2 Joe F. McCarthy, died in training, Puerto Rico 09 Feb 1981 (questions -
unit, cause of death)
PO2 Daniel Langelier, died in training, Puerto Rico 13 Oct 1983
(questions- rate, unit, cause of death)
Also, for special boat units/teams I've found only one death in SOUTHCOM AOR,
which was EN2 Michael Uyeda, SBU-24, who was killed in an explosives incident in
Honduras on 12 Dec 1984. Hopefully that is it but if anyone knows of others we'd
like to be sure their sacrifice is recognized at SOCSOUTH memorial.
Thanks greatly.
v/r rick
Richard Green USSOCOM History Office
7701 Tampa Point Boulevard MacDill AFB, FL 33621-5323
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Raymond Fauls Jr. Robert Fleming Joe F. McCarthy Daniel Langelier Michael Uyeda
1-800-I-AM-UNHAPPY1-800-I-AM-UNHAPPY FREE -
Volume 1: A former Navy Seal's
inspirational, spiritual,
straight-talking, sometimes irreverent, often humorous path of ...
life and leadership as we should know it
by Chris Bent (Author)
April 9, 2014
Hello Harold, "hfrogman; Doug Braca BUD/s class 106 here.
FYI: I spent my time on the West Coast and the East Coast and
finished/ retired as a BUD/s instructor 1994.
Me and Mad Dog Madison were in a SEAL Team 2 Winter Warfare Platoon together
what seems like a long time ago.
Randy Large was BUDS Class 06 / 106 / 206 / 306
Douglas Braca
Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal School SEAL/EOD Technician (NEC 5327),
Bomb Disposal/Diving
Frogman University Combat Swimmer, SEALology
1979 – 1980
Hoo-yah
Activities and Societies: Running and swimming all day long
Harold Dunnigan is a BUDS Class 06 graduate, is a retired LA Lifeguard, a
recently retired NSW Reservist, and lives in Santa Monica. He is coordinating
the Class 06 get together for the BUDS Class 306 SQT Graduation in 2015.
Doug Braca is a BUDS Class 106 graduate, retired SEAL, retired San Diego Police
Department and now working Anti Terrorism consultant. He was the senior enlisted
in Class 106. He lives in San Diego.
Dan Potts Funeral Service, Houston TX. Killed in Parachuting accident
Frank Sayle Glen Grinage
Michael F. Parrish R.I.P.
Bointnott and Riojas
Tom Keith on TV talking about the Killing of O.B.L. yr. 2014
Doc Riojas and Ed Mc Queen
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class David Hansen of Staten Island. Hansen is a 30-year-old SEAL who was already a figure to admire when he was named the Sailor of the Year for the entire Pacific Fleet in April.
Billy Hoffman
Dick Couch Richard A. Pearson Pamela Russell
Don and Diane Blazer Shipley
West Coast SEALs
Glen Grinnage
Steve Robinson
Middle Doc Erasmo Riojas
From:Bill Langley
To: Doc Riojas
Date: 24 Dec 2013
Subj: Tom Blais
Doc,
I talked to Tom Blais, Jim Cook, and Chuck Newell yesterday. We had good conversations and laughed about old times with the teams and UDT/R. They were instructors when I went through training and they were great instructors. They all said "Quit, you stinkin trainee". But I didn't think they really meant it; so I kept my helmet on and stayed away from that dreaded bell.
I really enjoyed your action packed Christmas letter. I will turn 74 on 29 Dec, Rudy's birthday is 20 Jan 1928 (he will be 86 but looks 12 years younger), and yours is 14 Aug 1931 (as if you didn't know; and you look 15 years younger).
Take care and Happy New Year to you and your special family.
In Christ my brother, Bill Langley
Lester Hall R.I.P.
BUD/S Class 130 Roster
CDR "Tucker" Thomas Aloysius Campion III
A Look Back At The World War II U.S. Navy Frogmen: My Piece On The Underwater Demolition Teams, Forerunners of Today's Navy SEALs
Note: The top photo of UDT frogmen ashore in the Philippines was taken by my
late father, UDT 5 Chief Edward
M. Davis. My father is shown in the middle of his team in the above
photo.Click on Photo to go to that Web Site !
A Look Back At The World War II U.S. Navy Frogmen: My Piece
On The Underwater Demolition Teams, Forerunners of Today's Navy SEALs
A while back I wrote a piece for Counterterrorism magazine on the
World War II U.S. Navy Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) frogmen and how those
brave and resourceful men influenced today's U.S. Navy SEALs.
You can read the piece via the below links:
http://home.comcast.net/~pauldavisoncrime/pwpimages/WWIIFrogmenJPG1.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~pauldavisoncrime/pwpimages/WWIIFrogmenJPG2.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~pauldavisoncrime/pwpimages/WWIIFrogmenJPG3.jpg
Note: The top photo of UDT frogmen ashore in the Philippines was taken by my
late father, UDT 5 Chief Edward M. Davis. My father is shown in the middle of
his team in the above photo. Posted by Paul Davis at 1:28 AM Labels: Chief Petty
Officer Edward M. Davis, Counterterrorism Magazine, U.S. Navy SEALs, UDT 5, WWII
Underwater Demolition Teams
\
A 1991 graduate of Phillips, Kristensen was serving as a U.S. Navy SEAL when his helicopter was shot down on June 28, 2005, during an ill-fated rescue mission in a mountainous region of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Kristensen and his team were attempting to rescue four fellow SEALs trapped in an intense firefight with the Taliban during Operation Redwing.
"History of
U.S. Navy SEALs in Coronado" Exhibit Opens
May 2 at Museum of History & Art
Posted by Coronado Historical Association on April 26, 2014
Sign Up For Alerts Coronado was the birthplace of Navy SEALs and is still,
today, a center of SEAL operations. The Coronado Museum of History & Art
presents the real-life history of SEALs in Coronado.
Tom Blais and Nancy montgomery
Lt. - Rt.: Chris Bent and Dick McCarthy Yes. I am the prepared and manly looking Yalie. Dick looks the opposite with his brain heavy head squooshing his body. He was propped up for the photo
Thom Shea
American
Hero Stories: A Navy SEAL Bill_Robinson
Journalist Posted: 04/14/2014 Updated:
I am not writing this new, regular column
because nobody else writes one like it--though nobody does--or because I love
this country--and I do--or because these stories need to be told. Though those
are all true and good reasons. I write "American Hero Stories" because
Americans who work as taxi drivers or lawyers or doctors or waitresses need to
hear them to truly understand how important the sacrifices of our American
heroes really are to all of us. It's one thing for us to walk around enjoying
our everyday lives in comfort, bliss and obliviousness superficially saying when
it's convenient, we "support the troops." But is quite another
(better) thing entirely to know, understand and respect the courageous
sacrifices these brave men and women make with their families everyday. And, to
hear about these extreme sacrifices first-hand from the people who made them.
(Wherever possible, I will refrain from editorializing and instead rely upon the
storyteller's own words.)
Kevin Lacz
The Defense Finance Accounting and Service (DFAS) maintains an archive of
historical pay charts dating back to October 1, 1949. You may find it
interesting to see how the current military pay compares to what servicemembers
made in the past.
The dates below reflect effective dates for the military basic pay rates, which
may differ from the effective dates for the various allowances and other pay
entitlements. These charts are intended for reference only and are not for
official pay purposes. These charts are all in PDF
http://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/charts/historical-military-pay-rates.html
SEARCH Engine ONLY for SEALTWO.ORG
Disclaimer
Notice: Some
or all of this material was written collaboratively by Teammates or visitors to
this website.
Erasmo "Doc" Riojas gives up all rights to all articles and graphics on www.sealtwo.org and seeks no compensation for its use. 2016
Mi Vida Loca - Copyright ©1998 - All Right Reserved Webmaster: Erasmo "Doc" Riojas email: docrio45@gmail.com
One of our guys, although he had the
misfortune of going Army instead of Navy, has become a writer in 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 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 !