Webmaster: Erasmo "Doc" Riojas
docrio45 [at] gmail DOT com
Barry W. Enoch R.I.P
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Chief Gunner's Mate Barry W. Enoch, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism on 9 April 1970 in connection with operations against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam.
While serving with a detachment of Sea-Air-Land Team ONE (SEAL-1), Chief Petty Officer Enoch was the Senior Advisor and radioman/grenadier to a combined United States Vietnamese SEAL combat patrol against the Viet Cong infrastructure leaders in Long Phu District, Ba Xuyen Province.
After insertion and patrolling to the target area, Chief Petty Officer Enoch observed six armed Viet Cong attempting to evade. Rushing forward and exposing himself to hostile fire, he succeeded in accounting for three enemy casualties. The SEALs then came under intense B-40 rocket and automatic weapon fire. Realizing that his small force was surrounded, Chief Petty Officer Enoch deployed his men in a defensive perimeter, and although under intense fire, continually shifted position to more effectively employ his weapon, relocate his men, and survey the enemy's locations and tactics.
Although his radio was damaged by enemy fire, Chief Petty Officer Enoch directed fixed-wing and helicopter air strikes on the enemy's positions, some strikes as close as twenty meters to his position. With his men running low on ammunition and still encircled, Chief Petty Officer Enoch directed air strikes on the shortest route between his position and the river, and then led the patrol through the enemy encirclement before the latter could close the gap caused by the air strikes.
By his heroic and decisive efforts in the face of almost overwhelming odds, Chief Petty Officer Enoch was directly responsible for the safe extraction of the patrol members and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Authority: Navy Department Board of Decorations and Medals Action Date: 9-Apr-70 Service: Navy Rank: Chief Gunner's Mate Company: Sea-Air-Land Team 1 (SEAL-1)
John Duggar, Hal Kuykendall, Cort Traylor and larry Metzler
Enoch Boykin Kassa
From: Pete Slempa, Date: 28Dec2012 BARRY AS A NAVY RECRUITING ZONE SUPERVISOR
DURING THE PERIOD OF 1973 TO 1976 I WAS THE
CHIEF RECRUITER FOR NRD PORTLAND,OREGON AND HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING ONCE AGAIN
WITH BARRY, THE SOUTHERN ZONE SUPERVISOR. BARRY AND I BOTH SERVED IN ST-1, BUT
IN DIFFERENT PLATOONS. AS PLANK OWNERS OF ST-1 BARRY AND I MAY HAVE BEEN IN NAM
AT THE SAME TIME, BUT IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND POSITIONS. OUR PATHS CROSSED
MANY TIME IN MY 11 YEARS WITH THE TEAM BUT SELDOM DID WE MEET.
BARRY WAS ASSIGNED AS SOUTHERN ZONE SUPERVISOR WHEN I REPORTED ON BOARD NRD
PORTLAND IN JUNE OF 1973. AS THE NEW CHIEF RECRUITER I SCHEDULED A ZONE
SUPERVISOR CONFERENCE AT H.Q. AND BECAME REACQUAINTED WITH BARRY AND HIS LOVELY
BRIDE LOLETA.
IT WAS BARRY’S LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT MADE THE SOUTHERN ZONE THE ONE TO BEAT
ON MAKING AND MANY TIMES EXCEEDING ALL ASSIGNED RECRUITING GOALS. THAT WAS
EXCEPTIONAL BECAUSE OF THE 5 ZONES COVERING THREE STATES SOUTHERN ZONE EXCELLED.
BARRY UNDERSTOOD THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DELEGATING RESPONSIBILITY AND THE ART
PRAISING IN PUBLIC AND REPRIMANDING IN PRIVATE.
THE RANKS OF ST-1 PLANK OWNERS ARE DWINDLING AND AS A UNIT WE LOOK FORWARD TO
THE DAY WHEN ONCE AGAIN WE CROSS PATHS WITH THOSE GONE BEFORE US. LIFE BEGINS AS
A SUNRISE AND ENDS AS A SUNSET. IT IS WHAT WE DO IN-BETWEEN THAT ESTABLISHES OUR
STATUS AS A WARRIOR.
FAREWELL BARRY AND HOOYAH TEAMMATE.
MCPO PETE SLEMPA –RET.
I am sure the Bear is guarding the streets with a Stoner and catching up on old stories with his Brother and Team Mate, Bill Machen .
One of the swimming instructors from Buds that was Dick Allen's Partner during Bears time is my shipmate Carl Fletcher, although like me, not a team guy Carl has a warm spot for all the UDT/SEAL Guys; especially those he helped make it over the hump. Bear can also watch the Wooden Butterflies on San Clemente Island over at Northwest Harbor. God Bless Him and may he be at rest.
We have lost another SEAL ICON---Barry was the epitome of A SEAL WARRIOR---He was a Plank Owner of SEAL TEAM ONE,, Later an instructor, and also was on the raid the Bob Kerrey received the
MOH---Barry had a son in the Special Forces. A GREAT LOSS –RIP Franklin
Let me begin by saying that I love your
website and it is an honor to address you. I feel a little out
of my league in addressing you as I have read of your bravery
and dedication in several accounts concerning your interactions
with Seal Teams. I have never served in
the military, though my father fought
and was wounded in the Aleutians in WW 2, and 2 of my older
brothers served in the fleet.
So I mean you nothing but respect and honor.
Welcome home. I read on one of your pages that you were
trying to identify the members of the now famous "Dirty
Dozen" photo as to who was who.
In Barry Enoch's book he identifies the team
as follows:
Lt. (?) Bliss Lt.
Scott Lyon
David Wilson
Dale Moses
Steve Frisk
Mike Beanan
Chip Maury
Don Crawford
Barry Enoch
John Ware
Bud Gardner
Larry Hubbard
Chip Maury is in the glasses on the far right.
Barry Enoch is kneeling in front of him David Wilson is behind
Barry Enoch with the blackened face. Mike Beanan is 2nd from the
left in the front row. Scotty Lyon is 2nd from the left
standing.
Bud Gardner is the person kneeling with an M-60
next to Barry Enoch
John Ware is behind David Wilson.
This is as far as I have been able to
ascertain so far. I know that several of the team have written
to you, and as you all seem to share such a close nit
brotherhood,
I may actually be providing what little
I know much too late. Thanks again for your career, and I
have no idea, but I hope this little helps.
Sincerely, Gary Lee.
This email was cleaned by emailStripper,
available for free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
Barry Enoch,
Book Signing
ALPHA
Platoon SEAL Team ONE 'nam
ALPHA
SEAL Platoon with Captured Medical Cache
Barry W. Enoch
Beanan & Frisk
Billy W. Machen KIA
Billy
W. Machen KIA 'nam
Steve Frisk
SEAL, SEAL, Barry W. Enoch
SEAL walking in Agent Orange
Defoliation
Solano KIA 'nam
WEBMASTER NOTE:I would like to label
all these photos with the SEALs names, somebody out there from SEAL Team
ONE, 'nam war games please help me. Doc Riojas
SEAL
Team ONE 'nam "The Dirty Dozen"
Billy Wayne Machen
SCPO
Don Shipley
Marcus
Luttrell 2012
Jack N. Reynolds R.I.P.
Norfolk VA. - Jack Neal Reynolds, 87, passed away
proudly served his country in the United
States Navy, serving in WWII and and the
Korean Conflict. While in the Navy he
served on UDT teams 2 and 21. After
retiring from the Navy, Jack began a career
with North Ship Co., where he retired
after 15 years.
Special
Warfare Operator 1st Class Patrick D. Feeks
Feeks grew up wanting to be a Navy SEAL. He enlisted in the Navy in 2006 and then completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training and advanced training. He served with a West Coast-based SEALunit beginning in May 2008. After serving two tours of duty in Iraq, Feeks was deployed to Afghanistan in December.
The Sunday beforehe was killed, he sent an email to his family saying he felt like he was doing what he was supposed to do, his father, Thomas said. When
Feeks? family got the news that he had been killed in a helicopter crash, they were devastated. But they knew the risks their son was taking, Virginia said. ?We all knew thiscould happen,? she said. Feeks was an avid reader, bicyclist and
triathlete. He also had an interest in guns.
He left behind a wife, Emily, his parents and sister, Regina, who is in the
Navy.
Feeks? awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with Valor, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal,National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal,Global War On Terror Service Medal, Global War On Terror Expeditionary Medal,
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the NATO Service Medal, Expert Rifle Marksmanship Medaland the Expert Pistol Marksmanship Medal.
Seals
Reveal Truth about Bin Laden Raid Seals Reveal Truth about Bin Laden Raid
From: fastphil [at] rochester DOT rr DOT com Date: Wed, Aug 22, 2012
Subject: Seals Reveal Truth about Bin Laden Raid
To: lrdthree [at] gmail DOT com
Osama Bin Laden was killed within 90 seconds of the US Navy Seals landing
in his compound and not after a protracted gun battle, according to the first account by the men who carried out
the raid. The operation was so clinical that only 12 bullets were fired. The Seals have spoken out because they
were angered at the version given by politicians, which they see as portraying them as cold-blooded murderers on a kill mission. They were also shocked that PresidentBarack 0bama announced Bin Laden's death on television the same evening, rendering useless much of the intelligence they had seized.
Chuck Pfarrer, a former commander of Seal Team 6, which conducted the operation, has interviewed many of those who took part for a book, Seal Target
Geronimo, to be published in the US this week.
The Seals own accounts differ from the White House version, which gave the impression that Bin Laden was killed at the end of the operation rather than in its opening seconds. Pfarrer insists Bin Laden would have been captured had he surrendered.
There isn't a politician in the world who could resist trying to take credit for getting Bin Laden but it devaluedthe intelligence and gave time for every other
Al-Qaeda leader to scurry to another bolthole, said Pfarrer.
The men who did this and their valorous act deserve better. It's a pretty shabby way to treat these guys. The first hint of the mission came in January last year when the team's commanding officer was called to a meeting at the headquarters of joint special operations command. The meeting was held in a soundproof bunker three stories below ground with his boss, Admiral William
McRaven, and a CIA officer.
They told him a walled compound in Pakistan had been under surveillance for a couple of weeks. They were certain a high-value individual was inside and needed a plan to present to the president. It had to be someone important. So is this Bert or Ernie? he asked. The Seals nicknames for Bin Laden and his deputyAyman
al-Zawahiri are a reference to two Muppets in Sesame Street, one tall and thin and the other short and fat. We have a voice print, said the CIA officer, and were 60% or 70% certain it's our guy. McRaven added that a reconnaissance satellite had measured the targets shadow. Over 6ft tall.
When McRaven added they would use Ghost Hawk helicopters, the team leader had no doubt. These are the most classified, sophisticated stealth helicopters ever developed, said
Pfarrer. They are kept in locked hangars and fly so quiet we call it whisper mode. Over the next couple of months a plan was hatched. A mock-up of the compound was built at Tall Pines, an army facility in a national forest somewhere in the eastern US.
Four reconnaissance satellites were placed in orbit over the compound, sending back video and communications intercepts. A tall figure seen walking up and down was named the Pacer. Obama gave the go-ahead and Seal Team 6, known as the Jedi, was deployed to Afghanistan. The White House cancelled plans to provide air cover using jet fighters, fearing this might endanger relations with Pakistan. Sending in the Ghost Hawks without air cover was considered too risky so the Seals had to use older Stealth Hawks. A Prowler electronic warfare aircraft from the carrier USS Carl Vinson was used to jam Pakistan's radar and create decoy targets.
Operation Neptune's Spear was initially planned for April 30 but bad weather delayed it until May 1, a moonless night. The commandos flew on two Stealth Hawks, codenamed Razor 1 and 2, followed by two Chinooks five minutes behind, known as Command Bird and the gun platform. On board, each Seal was clad in body amour and night vision goggles and equipped with laser targets, radios and sawn-off M4 rifles. They were expecting up to 30 people in the main house, including Bin Laden and three of his wives, two sons, Khalid and
Hamza, his courier, Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti, four bodyguards and a number of children. At 56 minutes past midnight the compound came into sight and the code Palm Beach signaled three minutes to landing. Razor 1 hovered above the main house, a three-story building where Bin Laden lived on the top floor. Twelve Seals roped the 5ft-6ft down onto the roof and then jumped to a third-floor patio, where they kicked in the windows and entered.
The first person the Seals encountered was a terrified woman, Bin Laden's third wife,
Khaira, who ran into the hall. Blinded by a searing white strobe light they shone at her, she stumbled back. A Seal grabbed her by the arm and threw her to the floor. Bin Laden's bedroom was along a short hall. The door opened; he popped out and then slammed the door shut.
Geronimo, Geronimo, Geronimo, radioed one Seal, meaning eyes on target. At the same time lights came on from the floor below and Bin Laden's son Khalid came running up the stairs towards the Seals. He was shot dead.
Two Seals kicked in Bin Laden's door. The room, they later recalled, smelt like old clothing, like a guest bedroom in a grandmother's house. Inside was the
Al-Qaeda leader and his youngest wife, Amal, who was screaming as he pushed her in front of him. No, no, don't do this! she shouted as her husband reached across the king-size bed for his AK-47 assault rifle. The Seals reacted instantly, firing in the same second. One round thudded into the mattress. The other, aimed at Bin Laden's head, grazed Amal in the calf. As his hand reached for the gun, they each fired again: one shot hit his breastbone, the other his skull, killing him instantly and blowing out the back of his head.
Meanwhile Razor 2 was heading for the guesthouse, a low, shoebox-like building, where Bin Laden's courier, Kuwaiti, and his brother lived. As the helicopter neared, a door opened and two figures appeared, one waving an AK-47. This was Kuwaiti. In the moonless night he could see nothing and lifted his rifle, spraying bullets wildly. He did not see the Stealth Hawk. On board someone shouted, Bust him!, and a sniper fired two shots. Kuwaiti was killed, as was the person behind him, who turned out to be his wife. Also on board were a CIA agent, a Pakistani-American who would act as interpreter, and a sniffer dog called
Karo, wearing dog body armor and goggles. Within two minutes the Seals from Razor 2 had cleared the guesthouse and removed the women and children. They then ran to the main house and entered from the ground floor, checking the rooms. One of Bin Laden's bodyguards was waiting with his AK-47. The Seals shot him twice and he toppled over. Five minutes into the operation the command Chinook landed outside the compound, disgorging the commanding officer and more men. They blasted through the compound wall and rushed in.
The commander made his way to the third floor, where Bin Laden's body lay on the floor face up. Photographs were taken, and the commander called on his satellite phone to headquarters with the words: Geronimo Echo KIA Bin Laden enemy killed in action. This was the first time the White House knew he was dead and it was probably 20 minutes into the raid, said
Pfarrer. A sample of Bin Laden's DNA was taken and the body was bagged. They kept his rifle. It is now mounted on the wall of their team room at their headquarters in Virginia Beach, Virginia, alongside photographs of a dozen colleagues killed in action in the past 20 years.
At this point things started to go wrong. Razor 1 took off but the top secret green unit that controls the electronics failed. The aircraft went into a spin and crashed tail-first into the compound... The Seals were alarmed, thinking it had been shot down, and several rushed to the wreckage. The crew climbed out, shaken but unharmed. The commanding officer ordered them to destroy Razor 2, to remove the green unit, and to smash the avionics. They then laid explosive charges. They loaded Bin Laden's body onto the Chinook along with the cache of intelligence in plastic bin bags and headed toward the USS Carl
Vinson. As they flew off they blew up Razor 2. The whole operation had taken 38 minutes.
The following morning White House officials announced that the helicopter had crashed as it arrived, forcing the Seals to abandon plans to enter from the roof. A photograph of the situation room showed a shocked Hillary Clinton, the secretary of state, with her hand to her mouth. Why did they get it so wrong? What they were watching was live video but it was shot from 20,000 feet by a drone circling overhead and relayed in real time to the White House and Leon
Panetta, the CIA director, in Langley. The Seals were not wearing helmet cameras, and those watching in Washington had no idea what was happening inside the buildings. They don't understand our terminology, so when someone said the insertion helicopter has crashed, they assumed it meant on entry, said
Pfarrer.
What infuriated the Seals, according to Pfarrer, was the description of the raid as a kill mission. I've been a Seal for 30 years and I never heard the words kill mission, he said. It's a Beltway [Washington insiders] fantasy world. If it was a kill mission you don't need Seal Team 6; you need a box of grenades.
Hooyah!
As Paul Harvey would say: You now know the rest of the story!
Please pass this on to everybody in your e-mail address book
Joseph Clark Schwedler, who was
killed in action while serving with the Navy SEALs in Iraq in 2007,
recently was honored when an East Coast SEAL team dedicated a new
building in his honor. This wall plaque hangs outside the facility.
(U.S. Navy photo)
Written
by Staff Reports
uesday, June 14, 2011 9:09 AM
LITTLE CREEK, Va.?On May 25, an East Coast-based Navy SEAL team
dedicated a newly constructed building here in memory of on Iron County
native.
It was named in honor of Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) 2nd Class
Joseph Clark Schwedler, a Crystal Falls native and Forest Park High
School grad.
Schwedler was killed in action in Iraq while serving with the
SEALs in April 2007. He was 27 years old.
The SEAL team also honored 20 other fallen teammates who served
with the command throughout its history, with a memorial in their memory
at the building aboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story,
Va.
Schwedler, who enlisted in the Navy in March 2002 and started
training with the SEALs later that year.
He was deployed to Iraq in 2006 and completed two combat tours in
support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and took part in more than a hundred
combat operations.
He was killed on April 6, 2007, while performing a building
cleaning with his teammates.
A description of Schwedler?s actions during the incident appear
on a plaque that was unveiled during the ceremony.
He posthumously received the Bronze Star with Valor, the Purple
Heart and the Combat Action Ribbon for his sacrifice.
?I think we all recognize that we are putting more than the
Schwedler name on this structure,? said Cmdr. Ryan Croley, commanding
officer of the SEAL team.
?We are setting the bar for what we expect from our operators,
service members, officers and enlisted.
?Service with honor, bravery, valor and humility are evoked in
naming the building after Clark?someone who completely exemplified the
SEAL ethos and will inspire others to serve at the same level.?
Capt. Timothy J. Szymanski, commander of Naval Special Warfare
Group 2, attended the dedication and spoke about the naval traditions
and the significance of the dedication.
He also noted that the ceremony was taking place just before
Memorial Day.
?In the spirit of Memorial Day,? he said, ?we do not mourn
our fallen comrades, but rather we honor their memory and sacrifice to a
cause greater than themselves, greater than ourselves.?
Schwedler?s sister, Kate Kokotovich, expressed her family?s
gratitude to the members of the SEAL team.
?It?s been great to see the building,? she said.
?It?s beautiful, and it?s an honor to be chosen to honor
Clark in this way. ?He would be extremely proud to be part of this
building. I know he was so proud to be a part of what you guys are doing
every day. It means a great deal to our family.?
The dedication ceremony ended when his mother, Susan Schwedler,
broke a champagne bottle on the building and christened the building in
honor of her fallen son. ?God bless our troops!? she said as the
bottle broke.
Joseph Clark Schwedler
For
A Navy SEAL, Balance Between 'Heart' And 'Fist'> NPR
After his studies, Greitens became a US Navy SEAL, serving in Afghanistan
and Iraq, and founded a group called The Mission Continues, which works with
wounded or disabled war veterans to contribute to their communities at home. In
a new book, ...
Navy SEALs at the Master
Divers Reunion Panama City FL 15 May 2011
Pictures by:
E."Doc"Riojas
Doc
Riojas Phyllis Bill Daugherty
??, ??, Mrs. Naus
& Mike Naus
"Dusty"
Rhoades
Billy
Kitchen
W.D.
Power & Bill Langley
Doc
RIojas Bill Langley Danny McEvoy
Erasmo
Doc Riojas & Tommy Shoulders
SEAL Team TWO Plank Owners
Photographs
taken from the SEAL Team's TWO 25th Anniversary Cruise Book
The real ST-2 Plank Owners are: (38 total)
List from Rudy Boesch
Harry M. Beal
Gordon Ablitt *
Reinold Lloyd
Benzschawel
Roy H. Boehm
Rudolph E. Boesch
Donald Wayne Boles
William N. Bruhmuller
Charles Bump
William E. Burbank,
Sr.
John F. Callahan, Jr.
A.D. Clark
John W. Dearmon
Joseph D. DiMartino
Samuel R. Fournier
William H. Goines
David H. Graveson
William T. Green
Stanley S. Janecka
Charles W. Jessie, Jr.
Michael David Kelley
Claudius H. Kratky
Louis A. Kucinski
James P. MacLean
Richard E. Martin
Frederick McCarty
Richard Nixon
Paul T. Schwartz
Dante M. Shapiro
(Stephensen)
Bobby G. Stamey
Donald Stone
John D. Tegg
James C. Tipton
James T. Tolison
Robert A. Tolison
Per Erik Tornblom
James D. Watson
Leonard A. Waugh
Charles C. Wiggins
Harry R. Williams
Let me know if you
need anything else.
Rudy Boesch MCPO
Ret.
Dante
Stephensen & Lenny Waugh agree with the above list, but there is still
debate because some men that had orders to ST-2 did not arrive on the date of
the Team Commissioning. * added by Dante.
Captain
Duncan Smith joined the US Navy SEALs in 1985, and transferred to
Naval Reserve to attend graduate school in the early '90s. He
returned to active duty with the SEAL teams in the weeks following
September 11, 2001.
Since
that time he has deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of
Africa. Most recently he headed up the Naval Special Warfare
Recruiting Directorate. As a competitive adventure racer during the
90?s, Smith competed in the ?96 Eco Challenge (part of that
year's ESPN X-Games), the '97 Southern Traverse of New Zealand and
was on the top finishing American team in the 1997 Raid Gauloise.
During
that time he completed his MBA from UCLA's Anderson School and
worked as an investment banker before he combined his experience as
a SEAL and his background in adventure racing to start up the
Presidio Adventure Racing Academy. Presido was the world's first
adventure racing training institute.
His
corporate clients included Deloitte Consulting, Stanford Business
School, the FBI, and Oracle and Jian Software. As of late, Smith has
been instrumental in garnering media attention for SEALs at high
profile events including the X-Games and Ironman Hawaii as well as
continuing to lead the nationwide Navy SEAL Fitness Challenge.
Part 1: Navy SEALs: Navy
on a Mission to Build Up SEAL Force
Burn
out SEAL P.T. !
They
train over on Coronado, but little is known about them. The Navy SEALs --
that stands for sea, air and land -- are renown for their stealth, speed,
and precision. KPBS Radio's Andrea Hsu has more.
(Photo: Navy SEAL hopefuls undergo strenuous
training. Naval Special Warfare Center). More? Part 2: Navy SEALs?
Part 1: Navy on a Mission to Build Up SEAL Force
Mar 26, 2007
Andrea Hsu
They
train over on Coronado, but little is known about them. The Navy SEALs --
that stands for sea, air and land -- are renown for their stealth, speed,
and precision. It's well known that they're operating in Iraq and
Afghanistan. What exactly they're doing over there is kept secret. But as
KPBS Radio's Andrea Hsu reports, one mission is clear -- and that's the
need to build the force.
As
military installations go, the Naval Special Warfare Center is remarkably
modest. But pass through the gates, and you immediately sense a very
robust presence.
In
a courtyard known as the GRINDER, more than 200 young men are well into a
90-minute high-intensity workout. A shirtless and heavily tattooed
instructor shouts out orders. Other instructors pace up and down the
aisles with megaphones. These SEAL recruits are in the last week of In-Doc
-- a three-week ramp-up to their formal training.
This
is a scene that makes Commanding Officer Captain Roger Herbert happy.
Herbert:
For the first time in years I've got a full class out there. Class 264
that you observed looks like a battalion, doesn't it? We don't usually
see that.
This
is especially good news for the SEALs now. The Pentagon wants the force of
just over 2,200 to add 500 new SEALs by the year 2010. Captain Herbert
says it's not going to be easy.
Herbert:
Growing the force is very problematic. It's not just a spicket you can
turn on and off. For the SEALS, from the day that a guy gets here to the
day that I give the guy his trident, the SEAL insignia takes 59 weeks
minimum, if he makes it through the first pass.
And
so - the Navy SEALs are changing how they recruit and how they prepare
recruits for the most grueling of training pipelines.
Commander
Duncan Smith
heads up the Naval Special Warfare recruiting directorate. He travels the
country, dropping in on triathlons, athletic camps, the ESPN X-games, in
search of the next generation of SEALs.
Smith:
We find that wrestlers do well, water polo players, non traditional
athletes do well - snowboarders, big wall climbers, ice climbers, who
are able to crank out 42-44 pullups. You can recognize immediately after
talking to them. They have personal discipline and drive to succeed at
any kind of physical or mental challenge.
And
then there's the Navy SEAL SuperFrog.
Smith:
A 1.2 mile rough water ocean swim, a 54 mile bike against hot wind, and
a 13.1 mile soft sand run, are you ready?
The
triathlon -- held on Coronado Island every fall -- is open to anyone who
wants to take on the Navy's top athletes. The recruiting directorate has
made a TV special about the event that they hope to get on a national
broadcast. It's part survivor and part infomercial for the SEALs.
Commander Smith says putting this sort of public face on the force was
unheard of until now.
Smith:
Traditionally we've had the luxury of not sharing any of our tactics,
techniques, procedures. Today we don't have that luxury. We want to make
sure the young man who has interest and the desire and the drive also
has information.
Information
on just how physically and mentally stressful the training is going to be.
And how dangerous the work is -- especially at a time of war.
Smith:
Because we don't want the young man who was talked into this, or because
he was given a 40K bonus. When cold, dark, wet, waves are crashing, only
person that has to drive the decision to be a seal is truly you.
For
those who decide to take the plunge - literally - there's help to be had.
The SEALs recently began a mentoring program in which retired SEALs help
recruits with specific weaknesses in swimming or running for example. They
hope better preparation will help more of them go the distance. It should
be noted that those that make it will almost certainly see combat.
Eighteen SEALs have died so far in the war on terror.
For
KPBS I'm Andrea Hsu.
(Photo: Navy SEAL hopefuls undergo strenuous
training. Naval
Special Warfare Center).
Part
2: Recruits Undergo Strenuous Training to Become SEALs
Mar 28, 2007
Andrea Hsu
For
anyone interested in becoming a SEAL - or for those who simply
want to test their strength, spend the next few minutes with me as
I take you through the Physical Screening Test, or PST. This is
what all SEAL hopefuls have to pass before they can get orders for
BUD/S - Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL training.
It's
barely dawn on Coronado Island. Ten active duty sailors line up on
a pool deck in swimming trunks. These guys are hoping to become
SEALs.
Carl
Romahn has been one for the last 18 years. Today, he's giving the
PST.
Romahn:
This thing is a very hard evolution. And this is just scratching
the surface. This is easy to some of the things they're going to
do in BUD/S and in seal teams themselves.}
Here's
what the PST involves. First, a 500 yard swim, in under 12 ?
minutes. A minimum of 46 pushups and 50 sit-ups in under two
minutes each. Then, at least six pull-ups. And finally, a
mile-and-a-half run in under 11 ? minutes. Oh, and by the way -
you do that in boots and pants.
Before
it all starts, Carl Romahn offers the guys a few words of
encouragement.
Romahn:
Don't put any pressure on yourself. That's why I'm known as
Uncle Carl. I want you guys to pass this thing. I want you to
get over to BUD/S. I want you to get orders.
Among
those here is Jeremiah. We've been asked not to reveal his last
name given the nature of his future work, if he makes it. He's
already failed the PST twice.
Jeremiah:
I was pretty nervous. I'm not going to lie -- a little scared.
But I've changed it. I?m not scared this time.
No
time to think about it now, anyway. It's time to start.
Romahn:
There is no freestyle, no arms coming out of the water.
Sidestroke or breaststroke. is everyone prepared and ready.}
That's
right - no freestyle. Romahn explains why.
Romahn:
If you watch, you can see how low profile it is. You can barely
see them. Low profile is what we're all about.
Everyone
passes the swim. And it's on to pushups. Romahn has Jeremiah
demonstrate the proper technique.
Romahn:
What do we have here? What kind of angle? Everybody - past 90
degrees. Correct.
The
guys all make the minimum in pushups and sit-ups. In fact some
break 90.
Then
it's time for pull-ups. Romahn has noticed that the biggest guy
here, Josh, has been struggling all morning.
Romahn:
Good job big guy, come on, get another one - at least. Come on
push. There you go, very good.
And
lastly - over to the track for the run.
Romahn:
Are we ready, set, go.
The
ten take off. Jeremiah looks good. But soon Josh is falling
behind.
Romahn:
Well, big guy?s has found that running 1 ? miles is pretty
hard after all the other evolutions. We'll give him the talk
afterwards. 6:56 - come on big guy. You're going to have to put
out if you're going to make it.
A
bunch of guys cross the finish line with only seconds to spare.
The time to beat remember is 11:30.
Jeremiah,
who failed the run twice, has made it.
Jeremiah:
Oh man, the feeling's indescribable. Mind if I say something to
my parents? Hi mom and dad. Hi everyone back home in Barrow. I
did it -- see you Monday.
That's
Barrow, Alaska if you're wondering. Well over a minute after
everyone else, Josh comes around the last bend.
Uncle
Carl attends to him immediately.
Romahn:
Don't feel bad, that's the worst thing you can do.
A
few minutes later - Josh offers his thoughts on the PST.
Josh:
It's no joke. And I mean, this is just the test. The main event
leading up to hell week is the thing everyone tries to prepare
for. I wasn?t ready - but I will be.
He'll
be back in about a month to try again.
For
KPBS, I'm Andrea Hsu.
(Photo: Navy SEAL hopefuls undergo
strenuous training. Naval Special Warfare Center). Part 1:
Navy SEALs? http://www.kpbs.org/news/local?id=7828
CORONADO,
Calif., April 10 (UPI)
www.upi.com/Security_Terrorism/Briefing/2007/04/09/seals_streamline_training_recruiting/
A
U.S. Navy program to boost the elite SEALs force is starting to pay off,
the Navy Times reported Monday.
The
newspaper said that the Naval Special Warfare Command had overhauled
both its recruiting and training techniques in the past year in a bid to
boost volunteers to the under-strength force and also to boost recruits
in their efforts to pass the unit's demanding training program.
The
NSWC and the Navy had even set up a mentorship program to ease the
transition of recruits in their training process, the newspaper said.
The
paper said a new recruiting division at Recruit Training Command had
been established to strengthen teamwork concepts among recruits, boost
physical training levels and capabilities and boost their overall
general performance.
The
Navy Times said the program was already showing some improvements in
recruitment figures and in the percentage of recruits who made the
grade.
It
said that SEALs class 263, which completed a six-month basic course on
March 30, produced 46 men SEALs out of 144 class members who started the
program, giving a success rate of 32 percent. This was a significant
improvement on the old average completion rate of 26 percent, the Navy
Times said.
U.S.
security concerns have created a growing demand for the skill sets of
the SEALS. However the current force level of 2,270 SEALS is below the
officially required level by 12 percent. The Pentagon wants the force to
grow to 3,038 SEALs by 2011, the report said.
Vic
Walker
Brandon
Stone WIA Ric Walker
says: "click on my picture"
Ex-Navy SEAL has lived by
`The Heart and the Fist'
By Harry Levins ? Special to the Post-Dispatch
STLtoday.com | Posted: Sunday, April 10, 2011 12:00 am |
St. Louisan Eric Greitens gives an explanation for the title "The
Heart and the Fist" in his subtitle: "The Education of a
Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy SEAL."
Greitens writes clearly and with wide perspective,
quoting both the wisdom of the ancient Greeks and the obscenities of his
fellow SEALs. Curiously, his most vivid writing takes place thousands of
miles from the combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. That's his account of
SEAL training near San Diego, climaxing with what the instructors call
Hell Week. In Greitens' account, Hell Week seems worse than anything the
enemy threw at him in Iraq or Afghanistan.
"We learned that we could hallucinate and still function," he
writes. "We learned that we could take turns passing out and still
function. And we learned that we could fight off mind games."
Although Greitens has yet to turn 40, he has been a Rhodes scholar and a
White House fellow. In 2008, he published "Strength and
Compassion," a book of photographs and essays. His photos were
exhibited last year at the St. Louis Holocaust Museum and Learning
Center.
He has performed good works and seen combat in countries far from home.
Now, he extends a helping hand to young Americans who suffered wounds in
the service of their country.
William H. McRaven
nominated for fourth star,
top post of U.S. Special Operations Command
Published: 06:35 PM, Wed Apr 06, 2011
Gates said he was recommending McRaven for
nomination to the position and for the promotion.
McRaven is commander of the Joint Special
Operations Command at Fort Bragg and also commander of Joint Special
Operations Command Forward, which involves forces away from Fort Bragg.
In his earlier announcement, Gates said JSOC
"ruthlessly and effectively (took) the fight to America's most
dangerous and vicious enemies."
If confirmed by the Senate, McRaven would succeed
Navy Adm. Eric T. Olson, who has headed the command since 2007. Olson
has not announced his plans.
McRaven would be the second Navy officer to lead
the four-star command that has 60,000 people and oversees Army, Navy,
Air Force and Marine special operations forces. The Army has the largest
number of people in the multiservice command, which has most often been
lead by Army generals.
The Senate on March 16 confirmed the president's
nomination of Joseph L. Votel for promotion to three-star general and to
replace McRaven at JSOC.
America’s top operator, Admiral William H. McRaven – the Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command
(USSOCOM) – has released his reading list for next year. Its intent, he says, “is to motivate members of the SOF [Special Operations Forces] community to grow professionally and personally. The USSOCOM Reading List represents important works for all
SOFofficers, enlisted and civilians as well as those supporting the USSOCOM mission.”
SEAL Team TWO
Fourth Platoon
OIC LT William (Bill) Gardner
AOIC Lt Ace Sarich
Plt Chief DMCS Thomas Blais
BM 1 Pat Martin,
EM 1 Kenneth Mac Donald
AE1 Curtis Ashton
(PRU Advisor)(KIA)
PR1 Steven Dunthorn,
HM2 Stephen Elson
GMG2 Daniel Olsen
MR2 Ronnie Rogers
RM2 James Burison
PR 3 Gregory Frisch
BM3 William Bibby
QM3
David Suthurland
Bill
Langley
Archie
Grayson , Jim Tipton
Henry Speigle and Joe "Red" Coyle from:
jebarnes121 [at] aol DOT com
to: docrio45 [at] gmail DOT com
date: Thu, Mar 24, 2011
subject: Re: a few new pictures here
Hi Doc,
Looked at the pictures and you have me down in one with Red Coyle. The man is Henry Speigle who is much younger than me and probably has more money. I know he is better looking also. Don't know how you came up with my name.
Hope you can correct it before Henry gets on your ass.
your Friend: Old as dirt Jim Barnes.
WEBMASTER
NOTE: thank you "Older than
Dirt" Jim Barnes. I wish everyone would find their picture on www.sealtwo.org
and send me corrections as you did.
Clay
and Margaret Grady
Gary G. Gallagher and Alex Verduzco
from: LionOnTheBeach X frog341965 [at] hotmail
DOT com
to: RIO DOC <docrio [at] warpspeed1 DOT net
dateWed, Mar 16, 2011 at 1:11 PM
subject: ALEX VERDUZCO AND GARY GALLAGHER
Hi Rios,
Found this in some old pictures i had, something to put up on SEAL
hasbeens. Gary was my swim buddy he was ararded Navy Cross.
Gallagher, Gary G.
Yeoman Third Class, U.S. Navy
Advisor, Vietnamese Navy SEAL Team 1, Vietnamese Navy
Date of Action: October 10 - 11, 1968 Citation:
The Navy Cross is awarded to Yeoman Third Class Gary G.
Gallagher, United States Navy (SEAL), for extraordinary heroism on 10
and 11 October 1968 while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged
in armed conflict in the Mekong Delta region of the Republic of Vietnam.
Distinguishing himself by his exemplary leadership and selfless courage,
Petty Officer Gallagher, serving in the capacity of reconnaissance Unit
Adviser, led his unit in a capture mission deep into an enemy-controlled
area. As the operation progressed and the unit began picking up
prisoners, the unit split and advanced on both sides of a small canal in
an effort to capture additional members of the Viet Cong infrastructure.
At this time, an earlier-acquired captive made a warning sound to his
comrades in the vicinity.
Immediately, heavy fire from a numerically-superior enemy force
was encountered by the separated half of Petty Officer Gallagher's
patrol unit. In order to prevent his prisoners from escaping, he forced
them to lead the way while crossing the canal to assist his stricken
troops. Rallying his reconnaissance unit, Petty Officer Gallagher boldly
exposed himself to the hostile fire while directing return fire on the
enemy.
His driving determination to succeed in his mission served to inspire
his men and resulted in the temporary neutralization of the enemy
attack. Petty Officer Gallagher then led a hasty, yet professionally
executed, withdrawal ? with his entire unit and all prisoners-of-war
intact.
Before concluding the extraction phase, he administered lifesaving
first aid to a seriously wounded companion and carried the man over
eight kilometers to safety.
Petty Officer Gallagher's heroic response while leading this
Vietnamese force, his demonstrated initiative and valor, and his
selfless dedication under concentrated enemy fire were in keeping with
the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
from: LionOnTheBeach X <frog341965
[at] hotmail DOT com>
to: docrio45 [at] gmail DOT com
date: Wed, Mar 16, 2011
subject: Hispanic Frogmen in the Teams
The only Hispanics I remember are George Nunez
and Gilbert Espinoza,
Gil is the fire chief in Denver Colorado. I get mail from him often,
George i don't know what happen to him. There were not very many guys in the teams back then
W.C. I graduated in class 34 W.C., never thought about it till now i was the only
beaner in the class.
Had a Hispanic instructer ,Vince
Olivera, he was a good guy but a real tackmaster.Anyway thanks for posting the pic
,i'm gonna send a mail to
Gary , he'll be real surprised.
thanks again , keep in touch i might show up at your doorstep one day, may we go open a taco stand.
stay healthy, your teamate;
ALEX VERDUZCO
WEBMASTER NOTE:Thank you
Alex. I remember from
the East Coast: Martinez, Erasmo Riojas, Fred Toothman,
Ray Ramos, Julio Ramos, Roberto Ramos (these Ramos are not related all
Puerto Rican)
CPO Chris Nicola (SEAL) Retirement
Chris
Nicola
USS
Texas in San Jacinto TX
Chris
Nicola and Joe Soto
Chris
Nicola
Joe
Soto CHris Nicola Dave Kappus
Chris
Nicola anD Dave Kappus
Officer,
Chris, Mrs. Nicola
The
Nicola Brothers and their Father in Center
Nicola
brothers, three a USNavy SEALs
Marine
and CHris Nicola
The
Retirement Cake
CHris
Nicola
Photos by Chris Nicola
Birthday Party,for a SEAL CPO, Nicolas, in Attendance
12, 2011
CPO, U.S. Navy SEAL
Mark Nicola
Joe Sr. Heather Rodriguez & Julieann Tennison
ID's by Heather Rodriguez thank you.
ER
Norman
H. Olson, Capt.USN Ret. SEAL, marks his 80th birthday with his 4,000th
parachute jump
Norman
H. Olson, Capt.USN Ret. SEAL, marks his 80th birthday with his 4,000th
parachute jump 3/14/2011
Navy SEAL Capt. Norman Olson USN Ret.
  ;
Captian Norman H. Olson Navy SEAL retired
Bobbie Olson, Norm's wife
Norm Olson getting ready for skydive
Norm OLson's Birthday Skydive in FL
Norm Olson landing
Norm OLson being interviewed and Gang walking away from DZ
The
Ole "Leap Frogs"
LCDR Olson, PHC Gagliardi, PRI Al Schmiz, PH2 "Chip" Maury
and SK2 "Herky" Hertenstein
by
CAPT Norm Olson (reprinted from "The BLAST", 2nd Quarter
1996)
During
this time frame (1961-1962), PHC Gene "Gag" Gagliardi
(D-546) of UDT-11 had gained considerable HALO and Sport Parachuting
experience in Southern California, which had then become a hotbed for
Skydiving. When LCDR Norm Olson, one of the early East Coast jumpers,
reported as Commanding Officer, UDT-11, Chief Gagliardi immediately
introduced him to the local jumping elite. He immediately got caught
up in the euphoria of their advanced expertise and slowly became
accepted as a mainstay in theSan DiegoSkydivers, one of the nation's first sport
parachuting clubs.
Subsequently,
at the goading of Chief Gagliardi, LCDR Olson recommended to
COMNAVOPSUPPGRUPAC that consideration be given to creating a small
demonstration team comprised of a cadre of highly qualified freefall
jumpers.
At
the outset, personally owned parachutes and equipment were utilized,
which provided little uniformity and sense of purpose, not matter how
well the jumps were executed. To overcome this dilemma and still
remain within the "no cost to the government" provision,
unique procurement techniques were employed. Innovation being the
mother of invention, known only too well by the Teams of that era,
produced Pioneer Jumpsuits, Bell Helmets, French Jump Boots,
Altimeters and Para-Commander Parachutes, the most radical change in
parachute design in thirty-five years.
The
Team initially consisted of five jumpers: LCDR Olson, PHC Gagliardi,
PR1 Al Schmiz, PH2 "Chip" Maury and SK2 "Herky"
Hertenstein.
Over
the next decade, the West Coast "Para-Team" grew in size and
adopted the name 'Leap Frogs.' With this growth came more
professionalism and national recognition as a group of jumpers to be
reckoned with. Subsequently, under the leadership of LT
"Scotty" Lyons, the Team was officially designated by the
Navy Recruiting Command as the Navy Parachute Team (NPT).
WEBMASTER NOTE:Happy
80th Birthday and Congratulations Capt Olson! You have set the
mark high for future Leap Frogs that wish to break your record at 80
years of age. E. "Doc"
Riojas
Submitted
photoVillager
Norm Olson participates in a 30-man parachute
formation on Sunday over Zephryhills. Olson
celebrated his 80th birthday and made his 4,000th
parachute jump.
ZEPHRYHILLS ? Age is only a number. And as Villager
Norm Olson celebrated his 80th birthday, his number that
wowed the crowd at a skydiving facility in Zephryhills was
4,000.
That?s the number of parachute jumps the retired
Navy captain and SEAL commander attained Sunday on his
special day as his wife, three daughters and two
grandchildren looked on proudly.
?I?m a little anxious, obviously,? Olson said as he
prepared for his birthday formation jump involving 30
fellow divers. ?My mission is to make sure I do what I
have to do.?
Olson was modest about the fanfare for his birthday
achievement. Not surprising, perhaps, considering his
military career often involved working dangerous covert
operations around the world without accolades or public
acknowledgment.
?When I retired from the Navy in 1983, I had 2,200
jumps, and after aFOR
THE REST OF THIS STORY: Go to LINK above photo !
WEBMASTER's NOTE:SOCOM
Parachute Team, Admiral Eric Olson, Commander, U.S. Special
Operations Command and his crew were part of the "Sky
Fossil's" extraordinary event. Laura
designed and purchasing a T-Shirt honoring this event.
They pulled off a great 30-way having it built above 9,000
feet. It took much planning and also practice. Tony
took this (above) still photo of the dive and a video
of the entire jump. The Team mustered for the awards
ceremony where Capt. Norm Olson was presented my 4,000
skydive award, 60-Hour freefall award, and his induction
into the Skydivers Over Eighty Society (JOES). A
party followed and also a great dinner.
WEBMASTER'S NOTE:
DC-119 is what we jumped out of back in
the 1960's when I graduated from Basic AirBorne training at Ft. Benning GA.
In the above video it looks like
they still use the 40 ft. T-10 parachutesare. Notice that most 'trooper's
landings are NOT the "PLF's" that they were taught in
training. LOL !
Back
in our old days a few Navy SEALs got their
Parachute Training at the USNAS Lakehurst N.J. They get five jumps
in one week, one monkey line jump then 4 freefalls. They missed doing
the Airborne "Shuffle" at Ft. Benning Jump School; it is a killer on the legs.
I graduated from the Army School. Doc Riojas
DC-119
Paratrooper Airplane
March 4, 2011,
Patty Schwalenberg ,
Telephoned me yesterday with the news that Wally
Schwalenberg died on Tuesday (I think). They were down
in Mexico on a diving vacation and he had trouble breathing.
They got him up to the boat and he died en route to shore.
Patty was very upset as should be expected and was working to get his
body back to Wisconsin.
The service in next Tuesday in upstate Wisconsin. Patty asked me to
take part in the service and of course I accepted. I've gotten ahold of
Warmack & Brechtel and plan to email W.D.
If you can contact any others in class 35 please do.
That is all I know at this time.
Dick Pouliot
From: Chip Detmer <detmer [at} jeol DOT
com>
To: wdusne9ret <wdusne9ret [at] aol DOT com>
Cc: chuck detmer, doc Rio
Sent: Sat, Mar 5, 2011
Subject: Son's First Jump
Mr. WD, See below for the 'Seal Story' my father
wanted to send you: Regards, Chip.
Son?s First Jump
A group of us SEALs from SEAL Team TWO were busy preparing our gear
for a day of parachuting. While we were waiting for the aircraft to show
up, one of the guys just back from dog handling school arrived on the
scene. Our interest quickly focused on his dog, as his handler had him
rigged out in a harness and intended to jump with him.
We all knew Army dogs were dropped by parachute, but we never had the
opportunity to see the equipment up close. The harness fit firmly around
the dog?s body, but head, tail and legs, were free to move normally.
It had two clips located on the dog?s back, one just forward of the
hind legs, the other right over the front legs. The clips would be
attached to the rings at the handler?s waist that held his reserve
parachute. The dog would hang from the handler?s middle, parallel to
the ground.
After the handler?s parachute opened the two clips would be
released, allowing the dog to drop on a line and dangle twenty feet
below his handler. This lessened the chances either of them would be
hurt when they hit the ground. We all noticed that the dog didn?t have
a muzzle, and since we would share the close quarters of a bouncing,
noisy airplane with a 95 lb. German Shepherd just back from Attack
School, we all voiced our concern.
The handler just laughed and, hugging the dog, said ?Son is just a
big baby and wouldn?t hurt a flea unless I told him to.? As if on
cue, Son visited each of us, licking and rubbing against us as if he
understood our apprehension and wanted to quell our fears. We all felt
much better, but decided? just to be polite, mind you? we?d let
Son be last on and first out of the plane.
The plane arrived, and we all loaded aboard, eager to jump and to
witness Son?s first jump. That dog was not at all bothered by the
noise, dust, and fumes produced by the plane?s engines. He was just
flat enjoying being one of the guys and, especially, being attached so
closely to his handler. Son seemed to enjoy everything about the flight.
Since he was closest to the open door, he got a good aerial view of
Virginia as we gained altitude on our approach to the drop zone.
However, Son?s enjoyment changed first to concern, then to
down right panic, when his foolish handler gotdangerously close to the
open door. Trying to alert his handler, Son began to nipat him. With the
drop zone right below us, the handler decided the best way to handle
Son?s panic was to get out of the plane as quickly as possible. But,
the harder the handler tried to get out the door, the more Son tried to
prevent this disastrous mistake by biting, scratching, clawing, and I
swear, going spread eagle to keep from fitting through the door. The
more strenuous Son?s objections became, the better my imitation of
wallpaper got.
Neither I, nor any of the other heroes onboard, were foolhardy enough
to offer the handler any help. In fact, had the dog shot me a quizzical
glance to find out whose side I was on?I?d have gone to scratching
and biting that handler too. Finally, the handler, with one last
desperate swipe,knocked the dog?s front feet free of the door, andboth
tumbled out into space. The actions I?ve just described took only a
few seconds, but I?m sure they seemed a lot longer to both dog and
handler.
The rest of us quickly exited the plane, without incident, eager to
see what would happen next. As we fell, we quickly maneuvered to get a
look at how the dog was reacting to his jump. If Son acted relieved when
his parachute opened, I missed it. I did see that after the handler
disconnected the clip holding the dogs rear, each effort to release the
remaining clip was repelled by a blur of teeth that made any battle
I?d seen on ?Wild Kingdom? seem as tame as a roll in the hay.
Starting by disconnecting the tail clip turned out to be a big mistake:
this put the biting end of that95 lb. bone grinder in the best position
to defend what he thought was his last link with survival. Finally,
despite bites and scratches, too many to count, the handler was able to
drop Son to the twenty-foot line and finally have some relief from the
panicked dog.
The handler was a sight: his clothes were in tatters, his hands
bloody, and to add insult to injury, running down his uniform front was
obvious evidence of the dog?s panic. Both dog and handler seemed
relieved to be separated by the twenty-foot line and soothed by their
gentle descent to the ground. The dog,of course, landed before his
handler and shook himself in relief to have his feet finally planted
firmly on the ground. The handler landed a second later and the dog
seemed perfectly willing to forgive and forget. I watched a scene much
like you?d see in a love story.
You know: two young lovers running toward each other her hair
flowing, etc.. Just as the joyous reunion was about to take place, the
parachute landed, covering them both, again panicking the dog and
producing a final flurry of bites. Remarkably, despite all that had
happened, it was only minutes before the bond between man and dog worked
its magic, and Son and his handler were again completely enthralled with
each other. The Handler was: Wally Swallenburg! Who went through UDTR
Class #35 little Creek, VA. 1965 With 23 other men.
NOTE: Despite having
encountered problems from both ends of the dog, Wally rebuffed our
suggestions to outfit Son with pampers. The only change in equipment was
to use a muzzle with dogs on all future jumps. Chuck
By: Chuck Detmer, UDT-R E.C. Class 31
This is a true story of one day in the exciting life of Navy SEAL
Wally Schwalenberg.
From: chuck detmer [mailto:chuckdetmer [at] hotmail DOT com]
This story is about Wally Schwalenberg. He died last Tuesday, 1 March
2011, while scuba diving during a vacation in Mexico. He wasn't around
when I wrote this story and had it published in our quarterly Fraternal
Mag.
I sent it to a guy going to the funeral so his family will get to see
it and requested that they let me write a follow on story. The gist of
the story will be that Wally, after hearing that SEAL Teams would no
longer be sent to Vietnam and all the dogs would be sent to Vietnam and
turned over to the VN dog handlers.
This didn't set well with Wally who was to ship over and go to
VN with his dog that week. Long story short, he loaded up his gear and
dog and took off without being properly discharged.
The Team wasn't sure of what to do so they sent his paperwork to his
home address and made up a story about the dog. It was a much friendlier
Navy back then.
This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for
free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
When the Vietnam war games started, Erasmo "Doc" Riojas was part of
the great UWSS Instructor Team stationed in Key West FL. Shore duty envied
by any U.S.Navy diver. An island paradise for my entire family whose home
on Fleming St was short lived when we moved to Sigsby Park Navy
housing. I forfeited some of my shore duty to go to ST-2.
I wanted to go to Vietnam with the Navy SEALs before I got
sent to the Fleet Marine Force again. There were only two teams during
those years. I telephoned Capt. Shaible at ST-1 in Coronado CA. to
see if could be transferred there. He advised me that I would have to get
in line as there was a waiting list to come to ST-1.
So,
I called Capt. Earley in ST-2 at Little Creek VA. at the advice of some of the
Frogmen instructors at UWSS. Mr. Earley told me that SCPO Don Stone was on
his way to shore duty and that I was welcomed on ST-2 as the team's Medical
Dept. Representative since I was a CPO, and senior to all the other HMs.
During
those years there was only SEAL Team ONE on the West Coast and SEAL Team TWO in
the East Coast. I retired there after my third 6 month tour in
Vietnam with 22 years, 2 months of total Naval Service. As we
used to say, "It all counts on 20."
Four handsome Devils Erasmo
"Doc" Riojas, Ray TUllis, Tom Blais, Jim Cook,
Chuck Newell at Chuck's house in
FL.
Riojas,
Clark, Potts, Homes
SEALs
Class 29
Danny
Dietz SEAL Memorial, Chad N. Stodden, Shaun P. Carrizales
Statues of Axelson and ?
; 2 KIA SEALs; courtesy of Ken & Melba Delfino
PBR Sailor
Dany
Dietz statue
Marcus "Doc" Luttrell cartoon
GulfCoast
SEALs at Marcus "Doc" Luttrell's book signing in Houston TX
Book "Lone Survivor" by Marcus Lutrell and Patrick
Robinson
The
forth coming MOVIE ! Does the Ghost Writer, Patrick Robinson, make $$$$$$$
The
TV interview on TODAY Marcus "Doc" Luttrell
" Lone
Survivor" Marcus "Doc" Luttrell from Texas
Afganistan
Native & Navy SEALs
From: Bill Langley
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007
Subject: Marcus Luttrell at the 2007 Ft. Pierce Muster
Thoughts on Marcus Luttrell and Tough Choices
Posted November 15th, 2007
Source: Mark
Divine, Founder NavySEALs.com
On Saturday the 10th of November I attended
the Navy UDT SEAL Museum Muster and met Marcus Luttrell for the first
time. Like many in the community who had not had the fortune to work
with Marcus Luttrell, I received my information by reading his book and
thinking about his actions and those of his teammates on that deadly
mountaintop in Afghanistan. At the Museum Muster banquet, Marcus
received a standing ovation from the guests. He was the only guest
to receive a standing ovation, which doesn?t diminish the
accomplishments of the other guests, such as Rudy Boesh, Richard Marcinko,
Patches Watson...however it spoke volumes about the NSW community
perception of Marcus. I was curious if the success of his book, a
movie deal and lavish attention from the press had taken a toll on him or
penetrated his armor. I was pleased to see that Marcus was still the
quiet professional, and was left with the impression that he would much
rather be in the field with the SEALs than receiving accolades for a book
he wrote to honor the memory of his fallen teammates. Events have a
strange way of thrusting reluctant warriors into the spotlight.
Thus I was honored to meet Mr. Luttrell. The episode got
me thinking about this man's historic role and what it meant for the SEAL
community and the country.
My contemplation was punctuated by a timely
Blog post from a compatriot in the Special Forces who took great pains
to lambaste Marcus Luttrell and his book The Lone Survivor. This
fellow warrior claimed that he read parts of the book to his teammates and
they had a good laugh about it. He seemed to think the idea of
Marcus? team having a democratic ?vote? about the fate of the Afghan
goat-herders who stumbled upon them was absurd. In a military unit
democratic discussions do not, and should not, take place. Further,
merely the notion that killing the goat-herders was an option was akin to
contemplating murder. Finally, this fellow was certain there were
?at least 10? other options his team would have considered, none of
which included killing the herders OR letting them go, which is what LT
Murphy and his team did that day.
While I respect the constitutional right to state ones
mind in public, I would urge my Special Forces friend to take a deep look
into his heart and set aside his service parochialism. Special
Operators are quiet professionals. Same goes for Green Berets and
Rangers. Our missions and training are different, but we are all
warriors in the service of a great country.
In the Teams, our thinking is much less rigid than any
other SOF unit. Some of our best ideas come from the most junior
enlisted man, whose mind has not become crusted with careerism and
risk-mitigation. It is not unusual to seek input from junior
teammates on important operational matters. As an officer I did this
routinely and it got me out of some tight spots. At the same
time, the final decision always rested with me. LT Murphy was no
different. He sought input, then made a call. The way it
happened may have appeared democratic to Marcus, but the bottom line is
the LT Murphy had the final call. The guys knew this, and supported
their leader.
Further, it is easy to second-guess what happens in the
field. Unless you were there, however, it is best to be quiet about it.
The ground-level truth will be different depending on the observer, and
never will it find it's way to the media. SOF operators knows that
compromise is a very real possibility, and surviving a compromise a dim
prospect. We train hard and develop Standard Operating Procedures so
that we don?t have to agonize over decisions, rather act immediately and
with confidence. However, SOP?s fall short when the situation
revolves around a serious ethical dilemma.
I have to believe that there were no good options for
the team in Afghanistan. Like the classroom ethics exercise where
you have to decide who to throw out of the boat to keep it from sinking,
or all will die, they had a choice between two equally unacceptable
options: kill the goat-herders, or let them go and face almost
certain death. LT Murphy chose the latter after some discussion with
his team. This is the ?hard right? leaders talk about ? doing
things that are counter to your own needs or even survival because it is
the right thing to do.
Making ?hard right? decisions, and how you respond
to a situation gone-bad is what separates great leaders from those just in
charge. LT Murphy made his choice. Then he, Marcus Luttrell,
Matt Axelson and Danny Deitz dealt with the consequences as heroically as
any warriors in the history of mankind. Marcus made it out alive
through a combination of happenstance, his strong survival instinct and
the support of the locals. He has healed physically, but not a day
will pass without remembering the teammates he left behind?and wondering
about the decision. He wrote The Lone Survivor so the memory of LT
Murphy, Matt Axelson and Danny Deitz would survive with him.
This month, LT Murphy was awarded the Congressional
Medal of Honor for his heroic actions trying to save his team. This
was the first MOH for a Navy member since Vietnam, and only the third in
the Global War on Terror. The MOH is an honor for Mike Murphy?s
family, the SEALs, the Navy, the entire special operations community, and
the country.
It would not have happened if Marcus had not survived to
tell the tale and risked his reputation to write a book about it. I
believe that Murphy would want this award to be shared with his teammates
? they earned it together. It is no laughing matter.
God bless our heroes
Posted November 14th, 2007
Source: RICK
PERRY TEXAS GOVERNOR
My generation, a lively bunch best known as the baby
boomers, grew-up in the shadow of some remarkable men and women. The
veterans of World War II, like my dad Ray Perry, withstood the Great
Depression then headed overseas in their late teens, to beat back
forces of tyranny that plotted to enslave the world. Victorious, they
returned over 60 years ago to pilot our country through the Cold War
and into a massive economic expansion. They are our country's Greatest
Generation.
Yet as these heroes of yesteryear grow frail in
body, a new rank of heroes that embodies the same valor is stepping
forward. I recently met one of these valiant men,a Navy SEAL named
Marcus Luttrell, the son of a Texas rancher from Huntsville. Marcus
and his twin brother, Morgan, both began their own SEAL training
regimen at age 14. Now on active duty as SEALs, the brothers are
committed to the point of tattooing respective halves of the Navy SEAL
crest on their backs.
Marcus is the sole survivor of a fourman Navy SEALs
team sent on a mission in northern Afghanistan to locate a Taliban
official with ties to Osama bin Laden. Attacked by more than 200
Taliban fighters and hunted for days without water, he was eventually
rescued by Army Rangers with the help of a local Afghan village in
June 2005. Despite the dire odds, a SEAL never quits. Before being
recovered,Marcus fell off numerous cliffs, including a 150-foot cliff,
and dragged his shrapnel filled legs over seven miles of hostile
ground to a water hole up in the mountains. There local Afghans found
him, cleaned his wounds and carried him to their village where they
put him under "lokhay warkawal," Afghan for under the
protection of the villagers. These Afghans shielded Marcus against the
Taliban that came to the village wanting the soldier's life.
"In the middle of everything evil, in an evil
place, you can find goodness. Goodness. I'd even call it
godliness," Marcus told The Washington Post.
If you want to read the first draft of history, read
Luttrell's account of those deadly days in Lone Survivor: The
Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL
Team 10.
Amidst the flurry of cynical articles published this
year that report most men and women enlist for poor reasons, like a
lack of ambition, Marcus' account of his teams' heroic deeds during
Operation Red Wing rebuffs such speculation and reveals true patriots.
Marcus received the Navy Cross. One of his' valiant teammates,
Lieutenant Michael Murphy, was recently awarded (posthumously) our
nation's highest award, the Medal of Honor.
I believe the acts of this newest generation of
soldiers, like Marcus, will match the determination, valor and faith
of such famed World War II combat groups as the Tuskegee Airmen, the
Flying Tigers and the troops that stormed Normandy. Like the stories
of our World War II veterans, this new breed of men and women will
attain earthly glory as we retell their stories on the big screen, on
the page and on every occasion to our children.
I am proud of my father and his many missions as a
B-17 tailgunner in the skies over Europe. I am proud of all World War
II veterans. And I am proud of our present day protectors: the more
than one million Americans who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq,
and continue to serve, to defend and protect our home.
This Veteran's Day, let us remember to thank those
brave men and women for all they gave to protect our country, the weak
and the ideals of democracy. And as we revere the heroes of wars past,
let us remember the new rank of heroes that battle global terrorism
and signify what's best about America.
God bless our troops. And God bless America.
Marcus "Doc" Luttrell & SEALs members of his squad
Luttrell in Afganistan
Awards presentaion at the Navy Memorial in Wash. D.C.
U.S.Navy Memorial Wash. D.C. Awards to two U.S.Navy SEALs posthumously
What do you
mean who is the guy in the sharp suit? Hey! Gov Rick Perry TX !
Nov
2003: Executive Protection for Ross Perot during his visit to Branson Missouri
? honored guest and speaker for annual Military GALA (I still had blond hair)
Oct 28, 2007 Steve, Thank you for
sending me your book. I spent 3 hours at McDonalds with "lil
Rio"
(he played
and I read). We came home and rested. 1.5 hours later we went
to the park to
feed the ducks at the lake. I took three breaks and
read. We ended up at the Blue playground
and I finished reading your
book. After reading the foreward by RD Russell, I just could not
put down
your book! Chapter 4 about the database, for me it was
information that answered
many of the questions in my mind about that database
and how RD came to have it.
You guys have busted many men
(using the word loosely) that have such low self esteem that
drive them to
fabricate such far fetched feats of Military Heroism. Some of them are by
definition true psychopaths. "Stupid is as stupid does!" I
could not put your book down!
My hat is off that him and Pam! Bravo!
To you my sincerest congratulations for your great piece of art! I salute
you!
Erasmo Riojas, HMC (DV)(PJ) USN ; Retired from SEAL Team TWO
From: Steve Robinson
To: Doc Rio
Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2007 10:49 AM
Subject: MANY THANKS, DOC!
Doc,
I was surprised and delighted to receive a collection of CD/DVD discs from you
in the mail on
Friday. I?ve been looking for a copy of MEN WITH GREEN FACES
for many years without success, and cannot tell you how much I appreciate the
copy you sent. Thanks so very much
for also sending the music CD and the SEALS.
Rt. to Lt: Mike Boynton, Tocci, Bill Langley,
Erasmo Riojas, Jack Rowell, Chuck Jessie, Pete Peterson, ??, P.T.Schuartz,
?? , the CPO on far left of photo is Robert "Eagle" Gallagher.
SEAL Team TWO, Little Creek, VA. 1968
I was one of the guys filmed for the movie they made AFTER that ?Green
Faces?? it was called ?SOMEONE SPECIAL?. It was intended to replace Men
With Green Faces and to ?update? the information which the Navy felt it
needed to give to potential BUD/S volunteers.
We all thought it was laughable at
the time, and we all joked that it was a huge waste of time, resources, and
manpower. Looking back, I now view it as an absolutely priceless window into the
world that we knew, the skills that we worked so hard to keep honed, and the
truly heroic men we had the privilege to know as our Teammates.
I recently found a listing for the movie SOMEONE SPECIAL online on Amazon.com
and purchased a copy. I was saddened to discover that the original film had been
cut apart and a number of more ?modern? scenes had been spliced into the
original film to augment the footage we shot back in 1971.
Many of the scenes
which I recall from the original movie ? including one in which I was shown
painted in camo and patrolling through thick forest at Cuyamaka,
and another scene in which my voice was heard over a radio (I was the ?voice
of HQ? for
guys calling in from ?the field?) ? have been removed from
the film to make room for more modern ?hooyah? type stuff to impress the
recruits.
There are still some scenes of mountaineering training which we filmed
out at Mission Gorge? but my memory for names has not survived the 35 years
since we filmed them. I see faces of men that I KNOW? I just cannot put names
to them. Advancing age is most certainly not for the timid!
From: Steve Robinson To: 'Doc Riojas' Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 Subject:The US Special Operations Command, SOCOM - aka the "snake eater community"*
Rio,
When I was going through cadre training out at Niland we nailed a big rattlesnake with a
shovel? skinned it (I wore the dried skin on a headband for years afterward) and cooked it up.
We?d washed the meat really well, then rolled pieces in egg, followed by rolling them in flour
and crumbled breakfast cereal (wheaties I think). Then we fried it up in cooking oil. Damned
tasty! And it had all of us watching closely for more snakes so we could get another taste?
but apparently word got around in the snake community because no others showed up during
Nov
2007 Steve Robinson ( ? annual Military GALA &
1971 at Camp Kerrey (Niland/Salton Sea/Chocolate Mtns area)
Virtual
Team Compound (Discussion
Board)
Webmaters Note:This
is an email conversation between Steve Robinson and Erasmo "Doc" Riojas.
Steve is the Webmaster for the site: http://cyberseals.org/index2.html
which includes a V.T.C. (Virtual Team Compound (discussion board) ie: BLOG.
Steve has invited me to participate in some of the on
going very entertaining "conversations" by SEALs. This
Blog is not open to the public. SEALs Only.
----- Original Message -----
From: Erasmo "doc rio" Riojas [mailto:docrio45 [at]
gmail.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 1
To: Steve Robinson
Subject: you da boss !
I posted on the VTC three different places. Next year, I'll do
it again.
thanks Steve .
From: Steve Robinson
To: Erasmo 'doc Rio' Riojas
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Subject: RE: you da boss !
Rio,
I?m gonna keep naggin? you mate. The VTC needs your Vida Loca mindset.
Steve
'
From: doc Rio [mailto:docrio45 [at] gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009
To: Steve Robinson
Subject: Re: you da boss !
Yeah, right!
I am a SEAL dinosaur,
you got all young lions there talking about BUD/S
and I was never there.
thanks for asking
Rio
From: Steve Robinson
To: 'doc rio'
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 2:03 PM
Subject: RE: you da boss !
Rio? in the VTC we?ve also got Ken (?the
elder?) Garrett who was in UDTR in Coronado in 1950? and 3 weeks
before they were due to graduate they got the word they were all going to
war in Korea. The entire class packed up, including all of the
instructors, and headed west from North Island Naval Air Station. They
stopped in the Philippines to pick up 3 other Frogs and then went on the
rest of the way to Korea. His class NEVER GRADUATED and they now refer to
themselves as ?Class Zero? or ?Class Goose Egg?
You?re a dinosaur, but so are all of us who remember when there were UDTs, and guys like Rudy who had served in WWII, and you who served in
KOREA were the men we looked to as the guys who KNEW what was required and
how to get it done because they?d done it the HARD WAY. Young lions are
always the same no matter what decade it is? young, dumb, and full of
cum. We were then? and they are now. But unlike many of the other
institutions in our nation, military and civilian, the Teams VALUE and
HONOR those who went before, those who laid the ground work, and those
upon whose shoulders they stand. UDTR, UDTRA, BUD/S? whatever you call
it, it was just a fancy framework in which to set the HELL WEEK picture.
Your Hell Week was 2 years long and a damn sight harder than anything
I?ll ever experience. Yeah? you?re a dinosaur? but you?re OUR
DAMNED DINOSAUR, Doc! We need your witty repartee to keep us all in line,
and I sure as hell hope you won?t wait a full year before you come back
and lay some more of that crazy ?Mes?can? wisdom on us all.
Hooyah DINOSAURS!
Steve
From: doc Riot [mailto:docrio45 [@] gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 2:28 PM
To: Steve Robinson
Subject: Re: you da boss !
It was so freakin cold up in the Korean Mountains. I kept looking
for a BELL to ring and go for a hot shower and a hot meal.
Never found the bell, much less a hot meal.
I was in the same boat as Joe Di Martino; He never went
through BUD/S , he told me there was no BELL to be found on Normandy
beach. LOL.
How do you convince the young lions that got drummed into their brain that
HELL WEEK is what makes them what they are? It is true! What makes them
what they are because they endured that week because of their intestinal
fortitude. That separated them from the boys. Some of
the guys have even gone through training twice! The only guy
that I remember is Tom Blais, there are others. I cannot put
myself in their class, that's for sure.
They re-earned their "BUD" in war, same as some of us did.
Thanks for the extremely well put assessment of what some of us went
through to earn our "BUD."
Erasmo
----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Robinson
To: 'doc rio'
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 2:53 PM Subject:
RE: you da boss !
Doc,
Brother?for you truly are my BROTHER? I don?t give a rat?s ass how
anyone else sees it, nor am I gonna lose sleep over trying to convince
them of what I know to be the truth. The fact of the matter is that what
they are and what they do today is due directly to YOU, and JOE, and RUDY,
and KEN, and the others who took a ?swimmer scout? job and made it
into something the entire world looks up to as the absolute epitome of
WARRIOR. The Orientals have their traditions of the ultimate warriors in
their NINJA culture? and for generations all of the wannabe toughs here
in America have acted like the oriental culture was the ultimate way of
life; they dreamed of carrying a Japanese katana strapped on their back,
wearing black jammies and sandals, walking on rice paper without leaving a
trace, and moving like a shadow in the night.
The American navy has created its own culture of military excellence with
the Teams at the top of the charts, and now all the wannabes are running
around wearing cammo and talking trash from the SOCOM 3 NAVY SEALS video
game and using words like ?tango? to mean ?target? and other such
clique terms. The Teams are our American NINJAs. BUD/S is part of that
whole ethos in the minds of the ?young lions? who grew up with SOCOM 3
and other video games? but those of us who joined the Teams when they
were still virtually unknown are aware of the real basis for what the
Teams can do. That heritage lies at Normandy and Iwo Jima and Inchon and
in cold snowy places like the Chosin Reservoir? and the folks that
served THERE never went through a formal BUD/S or HELL WEEK experience.
They invented the shit that they needed to solve the problems that they
faced. The young lions now aren?t doing nearly as much inventing as they
are copying those of you who went before.
I worry sometimes about what might happen when all their batteries run
down and their fancy electronics don?t work. Will they still be able to
land navigate in a snowy terrain with only rocks as landmarks? Will they
be able to move through a swamp without getting stuck in the mud or climb
a cliff without being able to call home for assistance? Will they know
hand-and-arm signals enough to communicate important information when
talking aloud ? even in a whisper ? will get them all killed? Will
they know how to use an open ?iron? sight on a weapon at night and
pick off a target without a battery powered night vision device, red dot
aiming point, and thermal imaging scope?
I hope so.
Meanwhile the guys that invented how to do it originally, without
batteries, under fire, are the guys I look to as MY heroes! I?ve got a
friend here in nearby Branson? 92+ years old? NCDU Class 48?
UDT-15? was at Iwo Jima and made numerous swims to the beach from a
small boat to provide assistance to guys in trouble. You? Joe Di
Martino, Rudy, Ken, Bill O?Brien? YOU GUYS are the ones that invented
the damned Teams and made them what they are today. I just wish you would
join the VTC conversations more often, my friend. Your delightful point of
view on things is much desired and much needed. I won?t push? and I
won?t whine much? but I do hope you step inside and offer comments
more than once a year, eh?
lt.
to rt: Kotchy, Schultz, Riojas, Humphries, Hammerle, Thornton
Thomas
Blais & Chuck Newell ST-2
Bob Rieve & Randy Dedrickson
Mrs. Hawkins & CDR Tom Hawkins
Ty Zellers Riding Airplane's Wing
WWII
UDTs: FRONT: Frank Castellanos, Charles C. COsto, Raymond Gallo, Kade A.
Cousins, Leonard Diveley MIDDLE: Fabins S Elmore, William A
harrison, Harold C. Lucas, A.M. Tomikle, Calvin W. Littles
BACK: Leroy P:earson, N.N. Upchurch, Arnold A Sockwell, Arthur F.
Stack, Edward I. Seeley, Darvin E. Robinson, Elmer C. Huffman, H. S. Winters,
Herbert W. Spears.
Class 33
E.C. from
Fred Miller
Click on image to enlarge
Email from Fred Miller:
Dec 9, 2007;
Rio, I Remember the Rats in Vietnam-- big enough to stand flat footed and mug a Bull Dog-- We use to go to the dump in Mytho and shoot them with the Starlight scope.
When the 5.56 bullet would hit them they exploded into mass of
Gue. When I used to shoot them in the water and missed and hit under them they would blow out of the water straight up about twenty feet in the air.
Turtles do the same thing when you shoot under them with a high velocity rifle.---Fred
This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
Click on image to enlarge
UDT
E.C. 1967
from Ty Zellers
Jim
Tipton & Erasmo Riojas
Charles Richardson & John Pinkeiwicz at UWSS
Key West FL
UWSS
Frank Kappesser & Jim Hazelwood, Key West FL.
The
Second FO UWSS Key West Reunion Panama City FL
Jim
Hazelwood, DeepSeaDiver, Navy Frogman and Navy SEAL
ST-2 7th platoon,
'nam 1967, lt. to rt. Riojas, Ming, Hook, Jack , "Eagle" Roy
Dean
CWO Charles Watson SEAL, Retired, Esq.
CWO
(SEAL) Charles Watson ESQ.Retired Navy SEAL feels Vindicated by
Trial over the book "GOOD TO GO"
B.Henry
Doc Hammel 197
Rusty & Henry
Dr. Lambertsen
Erasmo Doc RIojas aka: Doc Rio
Mx SEAL
Redmon, Gallagher,Gless, Isham, Riojas, Bailey, Clark
Dr. Riojas & Dr. Aquardo
Rio,2nd Yr.Med.Sch.
Gordon
ClishamSEAL
Team ONE Photo Album
Mr. Rick Hetzell provided platoon history& ID'd
Photos
Taken at Gorden Clishams House last August 2009
Front row left to right Chuck Holler (Class 54),
Mike wood (Class55), Paul (PK) Barnes (Class 54),
Barry Strausbaugh (Class 54), Dave Shadnaw (Class 54),
Jim Lake Class 55),
Top row directly behind Jim Lake -- John Shannon (Class
54), Bob Smith (Class 54), Biff Daugherty, Donald J.
Barnes (Class 54), Gordon Clisham (Class 55).
and Smiling all the way in the back with the blue shirt Dan
Cerigioni (Class 54)
Taken
at Gorden Clishams House last August Carol Hollar, Sandy Clisham,
Denise Daugherty, Joyce Wood, Joan Shadnaw,
Shanon,
Linda Barnes (DJ's ) wife, Barnes (PK's) wife
Taken at class 255's SQT ceremony at the Coronado
BUD/S compound These are all members of class 55 and we threw a
buffet and a couple of kegs for class 255 at Mc P's Left to
right -- Grant Telfer, Richard Jarke, Dan Potts in the back,
Karl Heinz in uniform, Jim Mantalis back, Gorden Clisham Center, Rick
Hetzell back, Eric Knudson far back, Mike Wood front, Jim Lake partly
obscured, Buzzy Harlow, and Ret Adm. Tom Richards on the end.
Later that night at McP's Left to right top row
-- Richard Jarke, Jim Lake, Eric Knudson, Buzzy Harlow
middle row Left to right -- Jim Mantalis, Karl Heinz
Front row Left to right -- Gorden Clisham, Mike Wood,
Frank Richard, Rick Hetzell, and Dan Potts
Class 55 - Mud flats -Thursday of Hell week
Class 55 - Mud flats -Thursday of Hell week. Mother Moy on
Woody Shomaker's back burying his head. BUT:Dan
Potts says that this is he ! I dunno; Doc Rio
Class 55 - Log PT at the Mud flats -Thursday of Hell week
From: sandi clisham <sandiclisham [at]
yahoo DOT com>
Subject: Seal Team Pictures
To: docrio45 [at] gmail DOT com
Date: Monday, December 28, 2009, 12:40 PM
Doc Riojas,
I am the wife of Gordon Clisham (Seal Team 1) Vietnam 1970. Almost every
year for the past ten, we have had Seal Team One Reunions at our farm in
Parkton, Maryland.
I have some great pictures of the guys (and their
wives) I would be happy to send.. Unit members include, Dav Shadnaw,
Gordon, Dan Cergioni, Chuck Holler, Paul Barnes (P.K), Joe Murray, Don
Barnes, Dan Petterson, Bobby Smith, Barry Strausbaugh, Biff Dougherty,
Willie Stentinnius, Rick Hetzell and a few more that I would be able to
tag. Let me know if you would be interested enough for me to send these
pictures.
As you requested, I asked Gordon if you could put these
photos on your web site and he said it was OK.
Disclaimer
Notice:Some
or all of this material was written collaboratively by Teammates or visitors to
this website.
While every effort is made to ensure that the content of this website is
accurate, the website is provided “as is” and sealtwo.org makes no
representations or warranties in relation to the accuracy or completeness of the
information found on it.While the
content of this site is provided in good faith, we do not warrant that the
information will be kept up to date, be true and not misleading, or that this
site will always (or ever) be available for use.
For reliable information of any sort, you must consult an officially qualified
professional in The U.S. Navy, or the Department of Defense.You may use this site at your own risk that none, part of or all of what
is posted is factual.
By visiting this website you are accepting all the terms of this disclaimer
notice.If you do not agree with
anything in this notice you should not enter into this website.
Some material
on this website, including text and images, is protected by copyright law and is
copyright to sealtwo.org unless credited otherwise. It may be copied,
reproduced, republished, downloaded, posted, broadcast and transmitted
for your own personal only.
Erasmo
"Doc" Riojas gives up all rights to all articles and graphics on
www.sealtwo.org and seeks no compensation for its use. 2016
At long last I’ve published the third book in my Indomitable Patriot series,
The Indomitable Patriot: the Submariners.
The book takes us back to 1943 and the OSS. The USS Great White (SS-299) has
just put an OSS team ashore in the Philippines and has gone hunting for Japanese
tonnage to sink. She almost gets more than she bargained for when she tangles
with a Japanese battleship with five escorts. Will she survive her assault and
live to fight again?
Lieutenant Commander Marcus Spencer, captain of the Great White experiences a
number of twists and turns in his career as well, mainly involving the OSS and
their covert activities in the Northern Mariana Islands. I’ve also introduced
naval aviation into this book to present many thrilling scenes taking place
above, as well as below the surface of the Pacific Ocean.
As with my previous Patriot books, this book is historically accurate fiction.
The book is geared toward submarine warfare and along those lines I read and
reviewed dozens of actual patrol reports of USS Wahoo, Tang, and a number of
WWII submarines. I lucked out in one additional way however. My technical editor was a retired Navy Command Master Chief who
spent his entire naval career aboard diesel and nuclear submarines. His tireless
efforts have enabled me to write a book about submarine warfare a reader with no
knowledge of the boats will understand and enjoy, and a submarine sailor (also
called a “Bubblehead”) will enjoy the realism, jargon and accuracy of the
story.
THE INDOMITABLE PATRIOT Fertig,
The Guerrilla General
One of our guys, although he had the
misfortune of going Army instead of Navy, has become a writer in
his old age. His first few books were about the paranormal... he likes
to chase ghosts in his spare time. But his latest
endeavor; Wow! He has started a new series of books he calls Behind
the Lines. His first book, recently completed and
published is titled “THE INDOMITABLE PATRIOT: Fertig, the Guerrilla
General.” It’s a historically correct novel about Wendell Fertig
in the Philippines in World War II. Here’s what the book looks
like.
Cover Final :
May, 1942. General Wainwright has just surrendered the Philippines.
Wendell Fertig, a Corps of Engineers Lieutenant Colonel, refuses to
comply and flees into the mountains of Mindanao. Fertig is soon
joined by dozens of former Philippino Army scouts who encourage him to
form a guerrilla Army. Over the next few months Fertig is joined by
several other displaced American soldiers, one of whom builds a small,
makeshift transmitter and establishes contact with the Navy.
General MacArthur denounces Fertig, going on record claiming it’s
impossible for a guerrilla movement in the Philippines to succeed. The
O.S.S. decide to take a chance and covertly supplies Fertig by
submarine. Once he receives the tools to wage war, his achievements
become legendary. By the time MacArthur returns to the Philippines in
1944 he is met on the beach at Leyte by a force of over twenty
thousand of Fertig’s guerrilla Army.
This fictional accounting is based upon the actual military records
and reports of one man’s impossible achievements against
overwhelming odds; against an enemy who outnumbered him a hundred to
one. Wendell Fertig, a civil engineer and untrained amateur in the
ways of war, defied the predictions of the experts and brought the
Japanese Army to its knees. Enjoy this first installment in the new
Behind The Lines series of combat thrillers based upon historical
records.
.
About the Author
Carl’s professional career began as an
Army and then FAA air traffic controller. He advanced from a small
radar van in the Central Highlands of Vietnam to the TRACON in one of
our nation’s busiest airports. He also became a commercial pilot and
flight instructor, retiring after thirty-nine years of flying. By 1986
he was experiencing severe burnout. He put himself through the police
academy, resigned from the FAA and became a deputy Sheriff in Reno,
Nevada. He retired after a distinguished career on the street. Not
only the cop on the beat, Carl became a renowned traffic accident
reconstructionist on his departments Major Accident Investigation
Team, as well as a highly acclaimed crime scene investigator.
Throughout his life Carl has been a student of the paranormal and
often experienced the effects of the supernatural in his personal
life. In 2012 he became involved in the saga of the haunted Allen
House in Monticello, Arkansas and its resident spirit, Ladell Allen
Bonner. The result of dozens upon dozens of paranormal interactions
with Ladell led Carl to write his first book about Ladell’s life and
death. Writing that first book sparked a latent avocation in his life:
writing. Carl has always been a connoisseur of military history, and
that interest began a new direction for his writing. This latest book
is the story of Wendell Fertig, and the beginning of a thrilling new
series, 'Behind The Lines.' While the stories are fictionalized, they
are all based upon factual military history. Join in with Carl and
enjoy his books as you gain an interesting new insight in what war is
all about.
The following is typical of the reviews
I’m receiving on the book:
Just finished your book and you get 4.0 marks from this old Navy Seal.
Really enjoyed and it adds to my hobby of WWII.
Spent 22 years of my 34 in and out of the PI. Have traveled every
island and was trained a marksman by RJ when we were
stationed at Team 2 during Vietnam. Still a very good friend I keep in
contact with. Going to recommend it to my friends,
at least the ones that can read.
THE INDOMITABLE PATRIOT Fertig,
The Guerrilla General