Jack L. Salts (UDT/SEAL/BUD/S/HMCS) USN RET

Jack L. Salts (UDT/SEAL/BUD/S/HMCS) USN RET

Jack L. Salts, Born in Lafayette , Indiana in 1938, Jack was the oldest of eight children. After graduating Jefferson High School , Jack joined the United States Navy and trained as a Navy Corpsman near Seattle , Washington where his oldest son was born. He was then admitted into the UDT SEALS and started his training in Norfolk , Virginia where his second son Richard was born. Jack then left for the first of two tours of Viet Nam where he was a platoon leader in the elite commando fighting forces of the Navy Seals. Jack’s nickname was Doc, and he was greatly admired as an excellent corpsman and SEAL operator. One need only take a quick glance at his large cache of medals and ribbons to know that the Navy held him in high regard. It was during this time that his third and fourth sons were born. After his second tour of Nam , Jack became a Seal team instructor in Coronado , California . His children remember fondly the times watching him parachute out of airplanes guiding dozens on new SEAL recruits to the awestruck families below. Just as well, we remember his absence during “Hell Week”, the infamous make or break week for SEAL recruits where two or three hours a sleep in three days is considered a luxury. Jack was an avid sports fan and had a memorabilia collection that reviled many sports memorabilia stores. He held season tickets to the San Diego Chargers but baseball was his favorite. He was an excellent umpire for SDBUA and loved talking about his favorite team, the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers. He made sure to take his children to more padre games than they ever could have dreamed for. During Jack’s “spare” time, he served as two-time past president of the Fleet Reserve Association branch 61 in Chula Vista , Ca. Jack also owned Jack Salts Realty in Chula Vista after his 22 years of service to the country were finished. Later, Jack became the doorman to the world famous Hotel Del Coronado greeting some of the most famous dignitaries in the world. It was during this time that President Clinton’s staffers asked him to be part of the president’s motorcade. Jack is survived by his four sons: Greg (Febie), Richard (Necole), John (Dawn), and Matthew, his father George and his mother Alberta, his stepfather Russell, sisters Beverly, Linda, Debbie, and Diana, brothers Mark and Mike, and seven grandchildren.

Fellow Teammates write about our Team Mate Jack L. “Doc” Salts

I need your help. Apparently, Jack Salts (SEAL Team One late 60s early 70s)
is on his way to his last op. and his family is asking for help notifying
his fellow teammates of his passing. I am asking you to assist because of
your vast email list of teammates both east and west coast. I am requesting
that you either respond directly with Jack’s son Richard via email or call him at

Thanks so much.

Carl Swepston retseal@sbcglobal.net

Your Father was a fine man, an excellent corpsman and a good
operator. Please give him my best.

Sad Hooyahs, Frank tfrank@cox.net

My wife Karen and I extend our thoughts, prayers, and wishes…that when
your Dad passes it is as peaceful… and pain free and as possible…that he be
comforted with the love of his family and his God…that he and your family
know…that HIS Teammates share in your sadness and this time…your pending
loss…but are also joyful and thankful for having known him…and
grateful…for ALL he brought to the TEAMS…

With sincere sadness…

DEE LarryDangelo@aol.com

Class 39 WC
ST1/UDT11
’66-’69

Your Dad WILL be remembered as a great Corpsman, Seal operator & Friend. I would never have anything but the best to say about him. We are all better for the opportunity to know & serve with him. I am so sorry to hear about his condition. Please accept our condolences to the Family.

Lou Boyles suz.fta1@verizon.net

UDT-5, UDT-13, UDT-11
& SEAL Team – 1

Your dad and I served together in Vietnam in 1970, Seal Team One Delta
Platoon. Your father was not only a skilled Seal Team Operator, he was
a caring Team Corpsman. Lost track of the times your Dad spent on
applying “Patch and Repair” to keep our platoon on the cutting edge. I
am most saddened by this news. It seams to me that many of my generation
of Seal Operators are heading to the last out brief. If your Dad can
hear you, tell him for me that FLUFFY is checking in, God Bless, Thanks
for being there and see you on the other side. Just one more patrol in
the mud. Mike

Michael E. McCollum
BTCM (UDT/SEAL/EOD) USN RET
PM Explosives Safety Training
Naval Ordnance Safety & Security Activity
Farragut Hall, Code N521
3817 Strauss Avenue, Suite 108
Indian Head, MD 20640
(301) 744-6089
DSN: 354-6089
FAX: XXX-6093
michael.mccollum1@navy.mil

Roger Hayden here, I knew you Dad well, he was a good friend,
operator and Team mate, all my condolences to a true Warrior, you and
your family, please keep me informed on his condition and tell him he is
in my heart and prayers.

Frank, if this does not get to Richard, would you pass it to him,
appreciate it, see you at the OS&F.
Roger

Roger E. Hayden
YC-3/GS-15Deputy OPs/FDO/FPCO
COMM: (619) 437-0933
DSN: 577-0933
RED: PH: 577-0933
SIPER: Roger.Hayden@navsoc.socom.smil.mil
NIPER: Roger.Hayden@navsoc.socom.mil

I understand that you have a dad who is?swimming hard but the surf?seems a little too high.? Please let him know that the Seals are praying for him.? And?we are strong and expreienced prayers!
May the peace of GOD be with you all.
Peace,
Perry Wootten pwoots@aol.com

I got a couple of calls today from Dads friends, one guy Master Chief Hershel Davis is head Blackwater, I used to work with his son. Dad has some awsome friends eh’ Talk to you tomorrow

Mark Slaughter <msslaughter@nc.rr.com> wrote:
s this Jack Salts email address? saltylamp24@cox.net
I just read the post on the PML and wanted to check in.
I served with Jack at UDT 22 Little Creek.
We found a floating rock while on a night op in the Med.
One of those things you do not repeat. I didn’t till now.
Call or email me if you are up to it.

email: msslaughter@nc.rr.com
Phone: (919) 329 7992

Regards, Mark S.

—- nseal1@cox.net wrote:
Dear Richard,
I knew you Dad well. He is a good Team Mate and a damn fine Corpsman. He once came to my house on a weekend to treat me for an emergency penicillin allergy reaction.
Like many of us will be soon, he’s on his last patrol, but to a better place. God Bless Him, you and your family.
Bruce Russell

Mike Rush <farmfrog@msn.com> wrote:
I am sorry to hear of your dad’s failing health. Please know

that he is in our thoughts and prayers. We will do our best to pass
information to our community. I don’t want to get too far ahead but when you
have a moment please pass to me details you would like to have friends and
teammates remember about Jack.
Mike Rush

Executive Director

UDT-SEAL Association

Peter Park 985-710-2941

Jack Lynch757-739-5855 president@udtseal.org (great contact, he will put anything on the old frogs and seals website, hell he’s the president he can do what he wants, He served with Dad on the East coast.)

Hershel Davis hershefrog@yahoo.com Master Chief
Big Big shot with Blackwater now in N. Atlanta

Bill o’brien billo27@msn.com

Carl Sweptson (he was the first to call, and sent out the initial e-mail that got the ball rolling) ( he is also an advocate of Dad going to Rosecrans, made a very compelling argument for Dad being creamated and placed there. I would like your thoughts on that so call me tonight about it)
retseal@sbcglobal.net

I got a message from Carl Swepston about your dad, Jack Salts. I am

sorry to hear that he is not doing well. I was a Navy SEAL also and

deployed with your dad to Vietnam in 1969-1970 with Delta Platoon,

SEAL Team One. He was in Lt. Jay Short’s platoon and squad and

operating out of another area during most of our tour, although our

two squads did operate together every so often. Lt. Mal Hetzer was my

squad leader and we were based at Rach Soi V.N. Navy base near Rach
Gia on the west coast of the Delta near the seven mountains, three
sisters island area as it was known to the Navy Seawolf helicopter
pilots that flew in support of us. Your dad was operating out of an
area to the north of us. I went there several times.

When we deployed to V.N. we were transported via a Navy four engine
transport, piston powered aircraft. The civilian version of this
airplane was known as the DC-6. We had to stop in Guam to have one of
the engines replaced there. It seemed that every time we stopped, it
was to replace an engine and get more fuel. In Guam , they decided to
replace our aircraft with another one, but because our gun boxes and
equipment on board were marked “top secret”, they couldn’t move them
to the new aircraft. They didn’t have a fork lift operator with a top
secret clearance… so we had to learn to operate the fork lift
ourselves and move all of our gear to the new aircraft and continue
to V.N..

Your dad took care of our medical needs and supplied our squad and
his squad with the medical supplies for our deployment. I remember
that your dad had come to us from the east coast, SEAL Team Two, so I
am sure there are a lot of SEALS there that also worked him.

Very sorry to hear that his condition will not be improving. I know
you must be proud of your dad. He was a true patriot and a warrior
for our country. I am glad to have had the opportunity to have known
your dad and to have worked with him. I hope you and your family can
find some comfort in knowing more about your dad from those that
worked with him while he was a Navy SEAL. I am sure that he will find
a place on the other side where he can finally rest. I will pray for
him to make a miraculous recovery though…

Jim LaVore jmlavore@bellsouth.net

Former Navy SEAL (SEAL Team One)

Richard,.Greg, John and Matthew,

I am saddened to hear the news of your fathers illness. He is well known
and remembered by those that were fortunate enough to serve with him.
My sincere condolences.

You asked!

By the way, what is a floating rock?, is it just that???
Sincerely, Richard Salts

Yes, Just that, a rock that floats.
Nothing special.
We all agreed not to mention it during the debriefing for the obvious
reason.
We shared amusing comments about the consequences of reporting such a find.
Our credibility took priority so it was omitted from the report.

Regards, Mark S. msslaughter@nc.rr.com

Sorry to hear about your dad. I served with your dad for many years in Seal Team One and worked with him in Real Estate for many years. He was and is a good friend, please keep me informed. Give him my best.

Larry Hubbard HMCM-Ret, lahubbard44@verizon.net,

My name is Roy Adams. I knew your father quite well. In addition to our time in the team
after we retired we were in the real estate business togather.
As a matter of fact Jack worked in my office. I rember Judy.

My wife Faye was most sad to hear the news.

Your father was a good man Richard please never forget that.
We are here if you need to talk.
My phone no. is 623-330-3343.
Roy & Faye thefroglives34@yahoo.com

Doc,
My thoughts and prayers are with you brother. I
too am a corpsman in the Teams and I well understand
the sacrifices you have made for your country and your
family.

I wish you all the best that is mine to give and I
will make sure that the boys all raise their beers in
a toast to you and all of our comrades past and
present!

HOOYAH!

V/R
SOC(SEAL) John “Doc Beav” Beaver docbeav2@yahoo.com

This is Tom Wagner (Seal Team 1) and I and my father Lou Wagner (UDT
11) new your father well. As they say in the teams “he was a good
operator “so from the Wagner family Tom, Alexandria (mother) Dana
(sister, Hotel Del ) we wish you and your family the best during theses
difficult times. Please say HooYah to your dad from us and that my dad
is awaiting with other team guys on the other side with a beer in hand.
Tom Wagner ibfrog@charter.net

Hello
I will introduce myself and you might remember me. I served with Jack when he was in the teams and we got to know each other pretty darn good. I am also a
corpsmen, HMC retired in 1972. I was on UDT 21 and Seal Team 2.
I am so sorry to hear about Jack and his condition. My wife is also fighting the same thing. Please convey my prayers and best wishes to Jack and to all of his family. It is a terrible thing for a family to go through and I pray god will help you do this.
Regards, David Hammer, Princeton , WV daveh@citlink.net

I apologize for falling apart on you. One thing I really need to know, is Jack a Christian? I hope he is and I said a prayer for his eternal
soul. I want to believe as the scriptures tell us that soon he will be
enveloped in the loving arms of Jesus and that he will receive a new body,
better than that great body he had in the Teams.

Jack and I worked in the Teams; he taught me the ropes on how to be a good
Corpsman. He took me in when he was just starting his real estate business
in Chula Vista . Again he taught me. I believe it was called Jack Salts
Realty? I last saw him circa 1979. I didn’t continue in real estate, but
what Jack taught me has helped me through out the years.

I was transferred to Colorado Springs for my twilight cruse. I retired in
1985 and moved to where I am now in Grand Junction, Co. If any of you ever
pass through Grand Junction (and you almost have to if your going toward
Denver on I-70).Call me and we’ll have some coffee, If you have time please
send me a picture of you dad buy email from back to when Men were bold in
the day’s of Gold.

Allen Doc Craig bigchief@bresnan.net

Richard,
I am sorry to hear about your father’s condition but happy to hear he is comfortable.

I first met HMCS Salts when I went through BUD/S and had the pleasure of working with him many times over the years after that delightful BUD/S experience.

Your father was a great inspiration to me and gave me the guidance that I required to become another in a long line of highly qualified and respected SEAL Corpsmen just like the old Salt himself.

I will send him a note in the US Mail today and will pass on my best regards.

By the way, there is no doubt your Dad had a long and illustrious career in Naval Special Warfare and was highly regarded and respected by many.

Best wishes to the Salts Family in these trying times.
Sincerely,

Ronald H. “Doc” Relf
BUD/S Class 81
UDT 12
SEAL Team ONE doc8269@aol.com

Subject: Incoming COMM’s from northern Michigan

Warm greetings to “Doc” Jack Salts and his loving family ~

It was a pleasure speaking with you this afternoon. Considering the
rough condition that your Pop is currently enduring, you sounded
up-beat and like you were doing well in the midst of this all. As I
briefly mentioned on the phone with ya’, I “know the deal” of what
you and your family are going through as I’ve been through this with
my own father and mother during their time of passing.

I don’t recall ever meeting your father, but there’s a good chance
I’ve seen him in Coronado in the past. Prior to going through BUD/S
(Class #126) in ’83 I was a coxswain at a special boat unit in your
Dad’s ol’ stomping grounds for 2.5 years. I have a special place in
my heart for SEAL Corpsman — those fellows (your Dad included) are
amongst the most admired and respected men within any platoon of Navy
Frogmen. That’s the way I see it, Richard.

Knowing you and your family are very busy I’ll sign-off for now; just
wanted to touch base with you and attempt to encourage you. I did
call upon the LORD my God for your daddy; for you and the rest of

your family. He alone is mighty to save and nothing is impossible with Him.

If I can render any assistance then please don’t hesitate to contact me, sir.

Respectfully,
Billy Hoffmann

Disabled, combat veteran of Naval Special Warfare & JSOC

Merritt, Missaukee County , northern Michigan ( Lower Peninsula )
E-mail: JesusChristKING@centurytel.net
“The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call

upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him:

He also will hear their cry, and will save them.” Psalm 145:17-19 [KJV]

I am sorry to hear about your father. I am glad to know that he is in a good facility. I was a SEAL for about twelve years and am now a pastor in Valley Center (just north of Escondido ). Please let me know if I can be of service to you or you family during this time. I would be happy to serve however possible.

Sincerely,
Gunnar Hanson

Pastor, Valley Baptist Church

Valley Center , CA 92082 gunnarhanson@yahoo.com

I am Master Chief Steve Giblin, a SEAL currently serving at BUD/S and would like to let Jack know that his generation’s legacy in the team’s lives on. Today’s generation may be worlds apart from the one Jack grew up with but they are the same in their dedication, will and desire to serve their country in a time where most will see combat in their first tour overseas. These young men continue to push themselves to new heights in personal achievement and strive forward in the teams to eventually become leaders of hardened combat veterans, much like Jack and the frogmen of his era.
Best wishes Jack.

SOCM (SEAL) Steve Giblin
Coronado, Ca. giblinsp@yahoo.com

I wish you peace beyond measure as you move through this final
stage with your Dad. When my Dad was dying, he so enjoyed hearing from some
of his service buddies, though there was never mention of the war. Just an
understanding that these men had shared something nearly indescribable.
I will keep your Dad and all of you in my thoughts and prayers.
Sue Ann Dunford sadnfrd@gmail.com

Hi Jack,
You don’t know me, however, you might know my grandpa… Elbert “Boom Boom” Schloesser. My grandpa was WWII, Korean, Vietnam era’s.
I wish you and your family the very best!!!

Thank you for everything that you have done!!! It is very much appreciated!!

Sincerely,
Shelly Peabody paigne69@hotmail.com

Dear Greg,

Spoke about Jack at length with Judy last night.

What a great way to remember your Father, by sharing everyone’s emails.
I’ve never seen it done before, but it is truly touching to read about him. Brought tears to my eyes.

I remember him fondly; recall his pride and his great pleasure, when he and Judy married.
I recall meeting you and Richard when you were so little and shy. He was so proud of you both.
You both have much to be proud of, to have had Jack as your Dad.

Then along came John and Matthew and it became one enormous testosterone driven family.
Judy had her hands full, but she loved her life and all her men. She really loved Jack and NEVER gave up on him in her heart, even when he gave up on himself; she was always there for him. That’s Love.
A rare and precious blessing, if one is lucky to have a life filled with love,
it’s more valuable than money in the bank. To be rich in love is true success. Jack had that.

Tonight, I was going to go down to spent time with Mum, but Judy really has her hands full.
I am here for her if she needs me for anything, she knows that.
She is being her usual stoic, strong self, handling everything and everybody so well.
Judy is a remarkable woman, but even she is human and needs all the support and strength and love only ‘her boys’ can give her during this awful time.

Also, please let me know if there is ANYTHING I can do, which Judy may overlook.
my cell:

My thoughts and love are with Jack and Judy, Greg and Richard, John and Matthew.

em ETGemail@aol.com

Please pass this on to Doc.
Hey Doc:
I have often wondered where you went. I am happy to hear from your son, that you are resting comfortably in El Cajon . You were the heroes of the old SEAL teams and the ones that we forever looked up to. Good luck in your future endeavors and give our guys a big “Hoo Yah”.

Biff Leonard
Captain, USNR- Retired

Biff
William A. Leonard, Jr.
Las Vegas, NV 89119

Chapter 7 Panel Trustee
District of Nevada

Blackberry: biffer@att.blackberry.net

Hi! To one of HMC Salts sons. I didn’t work with your dad directly, but knew of his good work.

Losing of family and friends is not an easy thing.

Best of Luck to your family.

Moses Marquez, HMCS, Ret.

marquezmoses@msn.com

Subject: My Teammate- My mentor!

Hi Jack, err should I say Chief Salts!

How I will never forget your positive leadership and example as a role model during my BUD/s Class 80. You sure made an impression on our class and me… especially ME!

I’ll never forget your fatherly love to inspire and motivate as you often did when I was in the push up position. How my body ached and yearned for your few words that inspired leadership and provided guidance while I was in the lean-n-rest. Only after making me knock out the twenty set of pushups 2 or 3 times did you finally provide the words of encouragement and unforgettable motivation that I was seeking. You’re few choice words that were spoken softly but firmly were greatly appreciated. The words… “RECOVER PISHDAD” was received with great anticipation and true admiration.

You guidance and leadership was truly remarkable as you stood tall and fast while I shivered uncontrollably in the surf zone was another example of the talents that you made sure my class and I would never forget. It was during periods like this that you taught me the meaning of perseverance, dedication and teamwork. Yes, while I endured the freezing Pacific Ocean surf zone for what seamed like hours on end, your unwavering determination to ensure each member of my class clearly understood the values that are required to be a Frogman, are forever embedded in my mind. In fact, I often reflect on moments that you took personally to ensure that I clearly understood the obligation that I was volunteering. And it was in-part to your leadership, your direction and your determination and your ability to stimulate extraordinary “SPIRIT” in our class was highlighted when you helped to motivate our Class 80 to be one of the only classes that had a NO-BELL Hell Week.

Yes Jack, thanks to you, I am a much better person. I have unquestionable determination, unending perseverance, the true understanding of the meaning of TEAMWORK! I am forever in you debt and thank you for not only being one of my instructors but for being one of my TEAMMATES!

Jack over my 20 years serving the TEAMs, your presence continued to inspire and motivate. Clearly your love for the TEAMs and our country has been unquestionable. When you ruled at the Hotel Del Coronado, the mere mention of your name made many of your trainees tremble in their shoes. It seamed like just the mention that I knew you was all it took to open doors of opportunity. Thanks!

I am in awe to your sprit during this the recent months of enduring health issues. Again, each time I have recently seen you, I see your smile, which warms my sprit and demonstrates your unending perseverance.

Lastly Jack, in all sincerity, you were a mentor to me, you have always inspired me and your friendship has been greatly treasured. It is not often that words of personal affection are conveyed between men, but in the TEAMs it seems to be an unspoken given. I want you to know Jack that I love you and will never forget what you have taught me and the values you have impressed upon me.

Your son has made my friendship and I see much of your character in him. You must be very proud of him too.

Your Teammate,
Amir Pishdad prodive@cox.net

Lieutenant Command To all of the brothers whom I played with in the street and yards of our homes on Sea Vale: I’m so grateful that you sent this email. I haven’t seen
Jack for many years now and besides many exploits in Viet Nam, my favorite
story was him walking over to my house to give me 2 big penicillin boosters to
get me well for a football game. Of course he had a big laugh and told me I’d
probably be so stiff from the shots in the butt that I wouldn’t be able to
run. It all worked out great.

Your dad was one of my favorite teammates and will always remember his
willingness to help in any given situation, but what I loved about him the most
was how he loved you all.
Please give him a big hug and a kiss for me. He will be in my prayers along
with all of you. Would you please keep me informed about everything going
on?

My love to all of you; your former neighbor and friend,

Mike LaCaze er, SEAL USN (Retired) LaCaz43@aol.com

Just wanted to let you know Vicki and I have retired and relocated to
Austin Texas about 2 years ago.
Do You remember our Mediterranean deployment in 1966 we had some great times
together back then. I’ve enclosed pictures of our platoon and one of you,
John Hunt and Nick Nolt at the leaning Tower of Pisa .
Hope they came out clear enough for viewing and bring back some happy
memories.
Your Swim Buddy, Tom tmccutchan@austic.rr.com

P.S.
Richard, you have done a wonderful job of taking care of your Dad, and I
want you to know that it shows what a great individual you truly are!

Tell your Dad and I went through jump school together. We also served together in BUDS. Your Dad was a true warrior and hell of a good SEAL. Tell your dad that he was always there when I needed him and tell him we had fun talking old war stories in the VFW. Jack was always there to cover your back. Tell him thanks for everything he did for me.

Gary Gallagher galmesa@cox.net
Command Master Chief
SEAL Team THREE (retired) Take Care

It was Delta Platoon’s pre-deployment training. Like other Seal platoons preparing to go to Viet Nam in 1969, both new and old Seals came together to learn how to form a small combat unit. Delta Platoon was being sent to the city of Rach Gia down in the southern area known as IV Corp. Our Lieutenants were John Short and Mel Hetzer. Jack was a Corpsman First Class, assigned to our platoon and in no time, won our respect for his medical knowledge and his great sense of humor. Jack has a special laugh… more correctly… a cackle… that made people smile when you heard him laugh. There was always an air of mischievousness floating behind twinkling in his eyes as Jack shared stories… and even when he was being serious. I was always waiting for the punch line.

As a maturing platoon, we had already been out in Niland for small unit tactics and live-fire drills in the desert. We forded streams, practiced Helo insertions and extractions. We fired every type of ordinance we carried. Delta Platoon separated into two, 7-man squads. Jack worked with Lt. Short while I was assigned to the other squad with Lt. Hetzer. Fortunately, both squads still met every day in the training drills, and if time allowed, we would find some cool place at night to find a cold draft and tell stories about the training we just finished.

Later, we were sent to Camp Pendleton for “Field Medicine Training” (FMT) and it was there Delta Platoon jelled into a tight unit. Everyone had put in the time, worked hard and we thought we had a good feel for how each person in the platoon would perform under fire. We thought we knew each other pretty well.

When Delta Platoon reported to FMT, our uniform of the day was “Summer Whites”. Unlike our usual green fatigues, we felt like standouts on that Marine base wearing all white uniforms with the traditional bell bottoms and Dixie cup lids. The Marines that shared the chow hall with us were also in training, and it was made clear at this training that the Marines run a different operation than the Seal’s unconventional method of operation. As Seals, we respected the Officers in charge of our units, but we had more of a personal relationship than the poor Marines who were constantly screamed at by their DI’s. Watching times like this, we Seals learned to appreciate the specialness of being a Seal. Unlike the men in other services, we were treated with a healthy respect by our Officers and Petty Officers. Even the Marine DI’s were respectful of us.

All this info was only shared to setup the retelling of my Jack Salts story. Jack’s story was contained within the FMT a Marine Doctor would share with Delta Platoon over a week’s time. No one but our Platoon was in this training… 14 sailors vs. 1 Marine Doctor. With those odds, someone should have known it would not go well for the Doc. Maybe this would become a turning point for inter-service cross training… I don’t know.

Monday morning started out with several old black and white movies, filmed during the Korean conflict. They showed us all types of battle wounds. Gunshots, explosion injuries, amputations, and every other type injury one might see on the battlefield. For us new Seals… those of us who had never been “in country”, the graphic reality of what we’d got ourselves into, had never been more clear. You had to be brave just to watch those movies. Our saltier PO ‘s and Lt. Short, were pretty unmoved by all the video gore. They’d seen the movies before, and we believed, some real life injuries already. I seemed they were more interested in watching the reactions among us new guys.

The next day, Tuesday morning started out interesting. 1st Cass PO Gruber had mentioned to all of us in our platoon that he’d been out a bit late the night before, “having a brew or two at the Naval Amphib base’s Acey-Duecy Club”. I sat in the desk next to where Guber sat, and remember he smelled like a brewery. His red eyes were having a difficult time staying open. I saw Corpsman Jack slip Gruber some antacids to settle down Gruber’s upset stomach and some aspirin for his headache.

The Marine Doc started Tuesday out with a movie… grosser than those we’d already seen. I think it was the movie on stomach injuries… intestines falling out of some poor guy, and some corpsman trying to hold all the guys guts in. As the movie started warming up, Jack Salts starts cackling… and then out right laughing. Now don’t get me wrong here… Jack was no sadist; I figure he simply wanted all of us to know he had bravado even in the grossest times. Like an infection spreading, our whole platoon started shucking and jiving, until we had a full-on roar of laughter going on. The Marine Doc turned the movie off and the lights on… with a kind of quizzical look on his face. (I don’t think he’d experienced anything this inappropriate in the past.) Before he was able to address what was on his mind …at that instant, PO Gruber, still sitting in the desk, leaned over into the isle between our desks and puked out a quart of sour, day old beer. Our platoon’s laughter increased.

The Marine Doc attempted to regain control of us, and pointing at the puke, said that these type of movies often caused this type of reaction. Jack’s laughter grew louder and it took probably two minutes before we began to settle down. It became clear the Marine Doc misread what was happening completely. Class was stopped and we all went outside while some poor Marine recruits cleaned up the puke. To-a-man, everyone in Delta Platoon had experienced something else at that moment that added to the bonding of our platoon… weird… yes… but pretty funny in sick kind of way. Tuesday ended with the Marine Doc telling us that on the next day, we would all have to draw blood from one another. This information was discussed among us as we drove back to the Seal area. Corpsman “Jack” told us it was no sweat.

Wednesday, as it would turn out, would become the “day of infamy” for Delta Platoon training. Somehow, the Gruber puke out had taken the sensational edge off the graphic scenes we’d been watching. After watching the 5th amputation, nothing seemed too shocking anymore. It always felt like someone was going to start laughing again. The whole platoon seemed relaxed, almost bored… and I was to learn later, boredom meant trouble.

The morning class had the usual movies, but also included one showing us how to stick needles into another persons arm to find a good vein to establish a lifeline for blood expanders or IV’s. Corpsman Jack was helpful and encouraging all of us as we learned the unnatural procedure of shoving a needle into another persons arm. Jack worked right along side the Marine Doctor, going from person to person, watching us as we drew a syringe full of blood from one another. The Marine Doc was so comfortable with how Jack was working with us; he left the classroom under Jack’s direction.

I can’t remember how it started exactly, but I think it was Bob Morris… extracting his needle from Pete VanFleet’s arm, forgetting to take his thumb off the plunger. When the needle came out of Pete’s arm, Morris accidentally squirted about a cc of blood onto Pete’s white uniform shirt. Pete reacted so vocally, everyone in the class saw the mess on his shirt. Corpsman Jack probably should not have laughed, but he did. I guess we all kinda laughed at Pete.

It was Pete’s turn to take blood from the next guy, and it was then we learned he was not going to be the brunt of anyone’s laughter… and not get even. As Pete pulled his syringe out of the next guys, his blood intentionally went sweeping across the classroom, spraying his guy, Jack (who was really laughing by now) and couple of us other guys. Really unfortunate… because all of us had already drawn blood and had our full syringes setting right there on our desks.

Oh well, no one was going to get out of there clean. In less than 10 seconds, every uniform in the room was hit. Needless to say, the laughter we’d experienced during the Gruber affair, doubled. Our laughter attracted not only the Marine Doc back into the room, but some other Marine Corpsman in the building. They came into the room while some of us were drawing more blood from ourselves to keep the fight going. The Marine Doc was clearly shocked. Blood on everyone’s uniform, on the desks, on the floor, on the ceiling and on the wall displays. It looked like a horror movie scene. (All the information about blood borne pathogens was not as up to date then, as it is now, so this story is not likely to ever be repeated… thank God.)

It took several minutes for us to act serious again. The Marine Doc told us he would be making a full report. Lieutenants Short and Hetzer had to leave the room with the Doc to work it out with him to drop his report. Of course a minute later, Hetzer came back in, and unable to stop smiling, told us in his sternest voice to clean everything up… and to quit laughing. We cleaned up and class ended early that day.

The rest of the week at FMT was uneventful… at least not memorable. Funny though… as the platoon deployed traveled to and from places, any time I was with Jack Salts, I had the memory of his wacky sense of humor and his great laugh. This was just a few moments I remembered in Jack’s career as a Navy Seal.

Tom Leonard TLeonard@chulavistapd.org

To Jack and his family:

I first met Jack in 1967 when I reported into UDT-21. Jack was
there with Dave Hammer and Bobby Clark. I house sat for Jack in 1968 and
I remember the wonderful German Shepard he had named Pepper. I used to
take her for a run, or rather she took me, and afterward we would stop a
Burger Chef and get some hamburgers. Jack and family had trained her
well; she really guarded her property, family, and friends. Jack was an
excellent example for a new guy to the teams as he was always
conscientious, knowledgeable, had a good sense of humor, and just a good
guy to be around.

I left UDT-21 in late 1968 and reported into SEAL Team 1, where a
year or so later, Jack also reported in and was also a platoon corpsman.
When I went to shore duty in 1977, Jack sold my house for me. I asked
him because he was a friend and I trusted him, he lived up to my
expectations. He was driving a diesel Peugeot at that time with an extra
diesel tank he had put in the trunk. I remember he told me he traveled
to Tijuana , once a month and filled it up. I think diesel then in
Mexico , was under 25 cents a gallon (those days are long gone). Jack let
me drive it around a little, it was a dog, but it got good mileage.

Needless to say, I’m sorry your Dad isn’t doing well and you all
and Jack are in my families prayers. Jack was a good team mate, a good
friend, and a good operator and I am glad he was a part of my life and
the fond memories I have of the Navy and the Teams. Terry and Jackie
Bryant tbryants@comcast.net

In mid-July, 1970, I, then ETN2 Frisk, was traveling back from RVN after

completing 6 months as a Kit Carson Scout Advisor in company w/ a
SEAL Tm ONE Platoon that Doc was in.

Doc was a primary player in saving my behind after I collapsed
in Guam during our USAF flight layover enroute San Diego .

DOC:

I am pretty sure I would not have been much good as a SEAL
if you had not known exactly what to do in a big hurry what
with me running a near 105/106 degree temp w/ hepatitis, as
it came to be found out.

Everyone had gone out to the club but me as I did not
“feel good”….matter of fact I felt like total crap
Being as I had Hepatitis into a semi-advanced stage
but who knew……

You did not hesitate to bear hug me into a cold shower
with your clothes on and make sure you stood there w/ me
until I got cooled down as the ambulance was enroute to get
me and whisk me away to the Naval Hospital there in Guam.

No telling what I would have been like had you not gotten
my burning up body immediately cooled down. I remember I
Was packed in ice for about 2 hrs after I got to the hospital.

You were, without question, a SEAL operator who knew your
Advanced corpsman skills and could calm down and care for
the sickest, most miserable, most combat-bludgeoned SEAL….

I was medavac’d to Bremerton Naval Hospital about a month later
& finally got back to ST-1 in Coronado about 3 months later.

I have never forgotten what you did to “save my bacon”……
At 2 am in the morning………..thank heaven the club closed down…..

Some months later in your realtor sidebar hat, you helped me
(so we thought) quit-claim a semi-bogus piece of ant farm property
Up near Apple Valley, but fortunately, we filed it in San Diego County
Vice San Bernardino County, so unbeknownst to me until about 4 yrs later,
I still owned this 5 acre piece of high desert…….
I got a ltr advising me that I owed 16,500 or so in back taxes, but,
hold on, the land was now worth, not $12,000, but about $60,000,
so I paid off the taxes and sold the property and made about $28,000.

Your real estate acumen “paid off again”…………..

I hope all the SEALs in town wear out your doorstep and
come by to give you a “lot of SEAL crap”…..you are with us all
And your peerless work in SEAL Team ONE will not be forgotten……EVER.

God Bless
Hooyah
Steve Frisk
CDR, USN Ret Steven.Frisk@nsweast.socom.mil

Saw your message from the UDT SEAL Assoc. I don’t have any sea stories to relate (your Dad went to the West Coast about a year after I arrived at the East Coast Teams in the mid 60’s) I wanted to let you know what a pleasure it was to serve with your Dad. He was a good corpsman and team member.

I realize he may not remember me, please say hello to him for me.

Captain Mike Jukoski USN (Ret.) icemjj@earthlink.net

P.S. At the timeI can’t say that I knew your dad. I was in Team 12 on the Strand
69-75. Had more than my share of head pops and my memory ain’t what it
ought to be. One of the biggest problems for me now is names. I just
can’t seem to remember a lot of the guys names and for me that’s a
really tough thing to deal with.

Point is, even if I don’t remember him I can tell you that you have a
lot to be proud of in your father. Taking care of a bunch of sick lame
lazy airborn crazy frogmen was nobody’s idea of a Sunday picnic. I
know you love him and can tell you with all certainty that a lot of
tough old waterlogged men do too! I will lift up your dad in my prayers as well as the rest of your family. He’s a part of my family
too.
Richard – God Bless you and yours,
HooYah navyfrog@earthlink.net
Chuck Owen I knew your dad I was a LT.

Please tell Doc he is in my Prayers
God Bless Him

Jim Watson class 23 EC aka PATCHES RealsealW@aol.com

greg,
Greetings in Jesus name hope you’re in the best of health and your family, as well as you dad. your father was suffering Alzymer’s disease, right? that is very common for those elderly patient starting in their 70’s up. most of them are very reluctant to listen and very forgetfull even his own name and his family. they’re vbery susceptible in differnt illnesses because of their less food intake. don’t panic bro, trust God, He will watch over your dad and undertake everything. your dad needs somebody that can truly understand his situation. just live it to God< He’s able to help him, okey? send my regards to you and febie and of course give my hugs and kisses to hanah. God bless you all.

Ramil

I knew Jack Salts well when he was with UDT at Little Creek and also when he was in SEALs, he was one of my very good friends.

Last I saw him was when I visited Hoss Kucinski in Panama City FLa when hoss was in hospice care. Jack looked great then and that is the picture i got in my mind of him.

May he rest in peace. He will be missed.

BTW: I was there at the Lei Li Hotel in Saigon and helped initiate when he made CPO.we let him have it ! both barrels !
Good old days! I do not believe they do that kind of initiations anymore.

docrio45@gmail.com WWW.sealtwo.org
doc Riojas

Photo by Erasmo "Doc" Riojas taken at the LeiLi Hotel in Saigon RVN 1970

Hello Everyone,
Jack’s Funeral Arraingements are set. The Service will be at Naval Amphibious Base Chapel Coronado, CA on Wed Aug 27,2008. They are as follows:
11:00a.m. to 11:30a.m. Private Family Viewing
11:30a.m. to 12:30p.m. Public Viewing with Eulogies from Family only
12:35p.m. to 12:50p.m. Full Military Honors
Catholic Service Officiant Father Brian Hayes
12:50p.m. to 1:20p.m. Rosary
1:20p.m. to 2:05p.m. Mass
Funeral Banquet @ 4p.m.
McP’s Irish Pub @ 1107 Orange Ave Coronado, CA 92118 ( everyone knows where it is)
We are going in line with Jack spending the better part of his career at NAB and Working at the Hotel Del and his Catholic backround.
These were all in his wishes only he just wouldn’t want anyone to make a fuss about him.
Flowers are gratefully received at EL Cajon Mortuary located @
684 S. Mollison Ave. El Cajon,CA 92020. They will go with Jack when he is transported to NAB.
On behalf of Jack’s family,
Thank You for your condolences
Sincerely,
Necole Salts

As I said in a previous email…
I will forever be very indebted to and totally admire HMC Salts,
who I know basically helped save my life or for sure,

[This fol is simply what happened at that time, which is just one instance
Among many of what a knowing and caring and actionable person Jack Salts
was….]

A good part of what I was left with as rational powers……..
When I collapsed in Guam with the discovery that I had a very advanced
And severe case of hepatitis A from my deployment to RVN SOLID ANCHOR,
Which might not sound very bad, but when your body temp is 106+ and has been
For however long & you are found at 2 am in a corner of a barracks in Guam in
an
Incoherent state, someone better had to the right thing quickly….
He literally picked me up and carried me into a cold shower w/ his full
liberty attire on and held me there in his arms talking to me
Until an ambulance showed up to take me to NAVHOSP Guam where I was packed
in ice for the next 3-4 hrs……….Whereupon I lost 23 lbs in the next 12
Days……

All I know is:
Jack Salts knew what to do as a SEAL and as a Corpsman…..
That is all I can say
beyond that he helped retain some property up near Victorville,
which did not seem like such a good deal until I sold it and
made $30K a few yrs later…..

We lost Jack way too early and that is upsetting to me,
But he IS now in that great Lily Pad Pond in all it glory.
r/
Steve Frisk
Then ETN2 (above)
CDR, USN Ret

Jack and I were good friends. He came to me when his wife decided to leave him and the boys in ’67 . The boys were young and it devastated Jack.
I had first known him from DSDS in Washington DC, he was in the next First Class Diver class with HMs after I graduated in 64-65 class. I went back up to requal later that fall and stayed with Jack, he was finishing up at that time and after completing the other courses was assigned to UDT22. Later, when I went through San Diego, we would get together usually with McCutcheon and Lloyd Shrier. I think Mac worked for Jack in real estate after they retired.

It is very sad to see our numbers shrinking. By our numbers I mean the Corspmen who came from the fleet and did all the things (and more in many cases) that was supposedly meant for the graduates of UDT training.
We endured the nonsense of some SEAL quasi-operators telling us that we “were only corpsmen” when we completed more patrols and gun fights than a few of them.

In the teams a few guys they strutted like peacocks because they had made it though a training class; Because we, as Corpsmen, denied orders to UDT training class. I know you tried and I tried to get into a class but because we were considered non combatants and unable to be assigned that Frogman NEC we were denied. Jack among other HM’s proved that we had the mettle to be SEAL Operators without reservations.

We are the guys, going to Washington DC that made it possible for the HMs to get the full package and respect that we were often denied. Jack Salts and many others of that era made it all possible. He was a pioneer seeing and training Corpsmen go through BUD/S as it should have always been from the very begining.

Thanks Rio; you are my amigo
Bo

All I know is:
Jack Salts knew what to do as a SEAL and as a Corpsman…..
That is all I can say
beyond that he helped retain some property up near Victorville,
which did not seem like such a good deal until I sold it and
made $30K a few yrs later…..

We lost Jack way too early and that is upsetting to me,
But he IS now in that great Lily Pad Pond in all it glory.

r/
Steve Frisk
Then ETN2 (above)
CDR, USN Ret