by: Erasmo "Doc" Riojas
Jack B. Molden
R.I.P. 1929 - 2017
Carl
Higbie SEAL author
X
Paul Rainwater:
People! Listen Carl Higbie.We need more people with this kick ass attitude and maybe we would have a fighting chance against the
Muslim terrorists, instead we have a weenie boy
imam windbag PC buffoon in the white house more interested in trying to brainwash
the American people who thinks climate change is our biggest threat.
The four armed contractors,
Scott
Helvenston, Jerry Zovko, Wesley Batalona, and Mike Teague, were killed and dragged from their vehicles. Their bodies were beaten and burned, with their charred corpses then dragged through the city streets before being hung over a bridge crossing the Euphrates River.
These Navy SEALs found not guilty at General Court Martial for allegedly giving the most wanted Iraqi,Ahmed Hashim Abed, a Terrorist, a fat lip. November 24, 2009
Matthew McCabe, (SO-2)
Petty Officer Jonathan Keefe, SO-2
Petty Officer Julio Huertas, SO-1
The Truth:
The cases against three U.S. Navy Seals, Matthew McCabe, Jonathan Keefe and Julio Huertas is true according to a November 24, 2009 Fox News exclusive report called “Navy Seals Face Assault Charges for Capturing Most-Wanted Terrorist.”
According to the article, suspected terrorist, Ahmed Hashim Abed, was wanted by military authorities in Iraq for his connection with a 2004 insurgent attack in Fallujah that resulted in the murder and mutilation of four Blackwater USA security guards. Abed, was dubbed with the military code-name “Objective Amber” after intelligence sources identified him as the ringleader and mastermind behind of the attack. The suspected terrorist evaded capture for sometime until September 3, 2009, when the three US Navy
SEALs apprehended him.
After his detention at Camp Baharia, a US Marine Facility near Fallujah in Iraq, Abed filed charges claiming “his rights were violated when he was punched in the mouth by his Navy SEAL captors.”
The US Navy SEALs “refused non-judicial punishment — called an admiral’s mast — and have requested a trial by court-martial.”
All Three Servicemen Found Not Guilty
On May 6, 2010, Fox news reported that a Virginia military jury found U.S. Navy SEAL Matthew McCabe “not guilty Thursday on all charges he punched an Iraqi suspected in the 2004 killings of four U.S. contractors in Fallujah.”
On April 23, 2010, Fox News said in an update that “After a daylong trial and fewer than two hours considering the evidence, Navy Judge Cmdr. Tierny Carlos found Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Keefe of Yorktown, Virginia, not guilty of dereliction of duty.” The verdict came a day after fellow SEAL, Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas, of Blue Island, Illinois, was found not guilty of similar charges. A trial against the third and final SEAL, Petty Officer Second Class Matthew McCabe, is scheduled for May 3, 2010 in Norfolk, Virginia.
Brian R. Hoke
R.I.P. 1974 - 2016
Sergeant 'Scruff' McGough
12:01AM BST 24 Jun 2006
Sergeant Paul "Scruff" Mcgough, who has died aged 41, was a member of the Special Boat Service unit which took part in the siege of Qala-i-Janghi, Afghanistan, one of the most highly decorated missions in the recent history of the British special forces.
In November 2001 McGough was with C Company, SBS, when it flew unannounced into the former Soviet airbase at Bagram.
A key strategic objective in north-east Afghanistan, it was disputed by thousands of Afghan government fighters, and the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance, led by the Uzbek warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum.
Though vastly outnumbered, the SBS held the huge airbase for a day and a night, to the fury of both armies, and to the chagrin of the Americans, who had expected to be first there.
Once relieved by the much larger US 10th Mountain Division and Delta Force (the American equivalent of the SAS) McGough, in local dress, undertook intelligence-gathering patrols in the mountains.
On November 25, as his team returned to the Anglo-American special forces base in the newly captured town of Mazar-i-Sharif, McGough heard the sound of battle at Dostum's sprawling headquarters in the mud-built prison-fortress of Qala-i-Jangi, known as the "Fort of War".
Several hundred prisoners had revolted while being interrogated by the CIA, and, overpowering their Northern Alliance guards, armed themselves with AK47s, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades from Dostum's huge armoury.
They killed Captain "Mike" Spann, a former member of the US Marine Corps with the CIA, and cornered another agent, Dave Dawson, in a blockhouse.
McGough was one of eight SBS men in two armed Land Rovers under a British commander, and nine US special forces, led by Major Mark Mitchell, who raced to prevent the Taliban from breaking out of the jail to retake Mazar-i-Sharif.
Using only Leatherman handtools, McGough and a comrade stripped two general purpose machine-guns (known as "jimpies") from their vehicle mountings and carried them with ammunition to the ramparts.
McGough stood silhouetted against the sky firing his heavy jimpy from the hip to halt a determined charge by scores of screaming warriors, despite a hail of bullets which tore up the battlements under his feet. Next he and another SBS man set alight three pick-up trucks. As the guns in the fort fell silent for first time since the battle had started, Dawson made his escape.
McGough's action marked a turning point, and for two days he and the other seven SBS men displayed extraordinary heroism in the face of hundreds of fanatical Taliban. A man of few words, he chain-smoked while repelling charges by the tribesmen for several days until the US Special Forces called in air strikes.
Chief Petty Officer Stephen Bass (USN SEAL), who was attached to the SBS, received the Navy Cross from the American President and the Military Cross from the Queen. Mitchell received the US Distinguished Service Cross from his government, and two SBS men received the British Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.
Despite reports to the contrary no Britons received any foreign awards, and McGough, though rumored to have been recommended for the award of the Military Cross and the Congressional Medal of Honor, received a mention in dispatches.
True to the cloak of secrecy which surrounds all operations of the SBS, whose motto is "By Strength and Guile", little else is known about Paul McGough. He was one of the most respected men to serve with the SBS and fought in Operation Barras during September 2000, when 11 members of the Royal Irish Regiment and a Sierra Leonean soldier were being held hostage by "the West Side Boys", former members of the Sierra Leone Army.
Some of McGough's exploits were described in Damien Lewis's Bloody Heroes, published earlier this month. He was killed in a hang gliding accident on Cyprus on June 1, and leaves a widow and children.
Frank Henry Sayle R.I.P.
1949 - 2016
Erasmo
"Doc" Riojas attending Frank's memorial service in Sealy, TX.
William Nicholas Bruhmuller III
R.I.P.
1935 - 2016
"Bru" is a Plankowner of ST-2
Don Shipley talks with "Bru"
Bette and Bill Bruhmuller Kim and Rick Brown
L-R Jimmy Patronis Mike Reiter Bill Bruhmuller Bill Langley Rick Brown Gary Wilson
Bob Nissely, Red Coyle, Bill Bruhmuller, Rudy Boesch, and Jim Tipton
William Nicholas Bruhmuller, III August 10, 1935 - September 23, 2016
Mr. William Nicholas Bruhmuller, III, 81, of Panama City, FL, passed away at Emory Hospital in Atlanta, GA on Friday, September 23, 2016.
With heavy hearts we are very saddened by the news of the passing of William Bruhmuller who was a very close, dear friend and business partner of my husband Bruce Holmes. Bill was a true American bad ass starting with being an old frogman/Navy SEAL of class 13 and was a plank owner of SEAL Team 2. Bill started the UDT SEAL dog program during Vietnam. His military working dog was named Prince and he earned a Purple Heart during his operations during Vietnam with Bill.
Bruhmuller was a Navy SEAL Master Chief, UDT 21, UDT 22 with three tours to Vietnam. After retiring from the military after 25 years of service Bill remained very active in the SEAL community. Bill was on the board of the of the UDT SEAL museum and he was also the UDT association NW Florida Chapter President. It was a privilege and honor knowing Bill but being able to call him our friend was a true blessing. I loved his no bullshit attitude and how he would just say whatever he wanted too, but if you knew him you would know he was also big old Teddy
Bear! Even though we didn't get to see Bill very often, Bruce, my girls and I loved him and loved being around him. Bill and his wife Bette have been married for pretty much forever and I wish I knew how many years it was so I could say. I never got the
pleasure of meeting Bette in person but both her and Bill have been very thoughtful and good to my family. My thoughts and prayers go out to Bill's wife Bette, their kids and the rest of the Bruhmuller family. Bill was a amazing person and he will be truly missed by so
many. Bruce and I will be making a toast to Bill tonight and honoring him while drinking a Captain Morgan and coke. So until we meet again...RIP our dear sweet friend. By: Bonnie Grundy Holmes with Bruce Holmes and 2 others
email from: Bill Langley
SEAL K-9 "Prince" and his handler Bill Bruhmuller in the P.I. (fuel stop) on the way to 'nam
Leon Eugene Wooten R.I.P.
1936 - 2016
John Douglas Bartleson, Jr.
R.I.P.1936 - 2016
From 1948 to 1966, the Atlantic Fleet UDTs
From 1948 to 1966, the Atlantic Fleet UDTs used Sub Base routinely for their winter training between January and April. The teams lives were centered there. Living conditions for the UDT men were primitive, with barracks-style double bunks set up in a warehouse setting. Many of the operations were performed out of CONEX boxes (shipping containers), much like they would be if the men were aboard ship.
Upon arrival in early January, team members cleared beach areas and hotel building sites as part of the demolition training. During the 1950s and early 1960s almost all UDT Submarine operations were conducted aboard Sea Lion, which had been specifically modified to conduct swimmer operations and designed for amphibious use.
A typical training class would consist of 20-25 students, with test and evaluation staff also present. They also practiced nighttime underwater sneak attacks on the vessels tied up at the base. The teams also frequented Lindberg Bay for compass swims and deeper waters south of St. Thomas for night dives.
During later years the teams even practiced parachuting and their demolition work took place on Buck Island, seven miles southeast of Charlotte
Amalie. Norman Marsh, of 1958 UDT-21 recalls that a favorite daily regimen was “to free dive off the end (unreadable possibly <of the pier and came back up with>) a handful of bottom sand.
Eyewitness accounts from the early years are obviously a little tricky to come by at this date. There are, however, men dotted around the US who are united by astounding memories, each with fascinating stories to impart. They contribute to the online magazine Fifties Frogs and were more than happy to elaborate on what life was really like in those days as pioneering Frogmen.
During 1960 and 1961, Bill Meyers, UDT-21 recalls, “Team members operated the Silver Bullet bar on the Base for team members and visiting naval vessel personnel. Once a week we had outdoor movie showings which were open to the public and projected on the end of one of the base buildings. Meyers also remembered that one of the barracks was transformed to the Gramboko Hotel by a well-known local lady. So while training was sometimes grueling, the frogmen also had good times too. The Gate was [also] a favorite for team members, they had steel pan music nightly. The St. Thomas Club was another late night stop, “ Myers explained Yes, we were getting the picture! Why hasn’t a movie been made about this yet?
Dante Stephensen entered the service in 1953, first serving in the National Guard then serving in UDT – 21 and SEAL Team 2. Stephensen said he remembers meeting former USVI governor Ralph Moses
Paiewonsky. He did, in fact, date the Governor’s daughter. Stephensen saw tragedy firsthand on April 20, 1963 when a 10 foot shark attacked and killed their team member, John Gibson, who was swimming at Magen’s Bay without swim mask or fins. “I organized and led the group’s mission that set the traps and caught the shark the next day. Our doctor found Gibson’s hand and some body parts in the shark’s stomach which helped relax the locals,” he said (presumably because the shark had been caught.) This was apparently the very first authenticated shark attack in the Virgin Islands.
“A St. Thomas deployment tour was an unforgettable experience,” Larry Bailey, UDT 21 commented. “The teams worked and swam their butts off, but night time was something else. The stewardess from the continent showed up on St. Thomas in enough numbers to temp the team guys. A number of marriages were made and a few were broken up down there, Tom Hawkins, UDT member in the late 1960s added, “Much to the chagrin of their wives, the men thoroughly anticipated and enjoyed their winter deployment to St. Thomas, returning with a golden tan to the envy of all.
Bailey added a side note. “Each year when the teams redeployed to Norfolk, many, many gallons of tax free liquor was stowed in CONEX boxes and brought back for use by team guys, especially at the annual Christmas parties. The last deployment, in 1966, saw the biggest haul. Several CONEX boxes were filled with barrels of Cruzan Rum and case after case of other liquors. If we had been caught by US Customs many folks would have suffered, including the team commanding officers.” But we are sure the parties were a blast.
The Sub Base was turned over to the territorial government at the end of 1966, due to the growing use of nuclear submarines in the Navy and the phasing out of the diesel submarines, but also Bailey explained, “largely as the poor political situation caused by the detonation of a large amount of demolitions on a pristine coral reef at the west end of St. Thomas. The owner of the property adjacent to the reef was a Mr. Corning (of Corning Glass Co.) His wife gathered a basket of dead tropical fish and dumped them on the desk of the Lieutenant Commander who had been sent over from Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico to be the administrative commander of the Sub Base in St. Thomas. The Commander retired around the time the base was handed over, and apparently was given a position in the Paiewonsky administration as a reward for his part in getting the Navy to give the base to St. Thomas.
As military training goes, this certainly would have been a plum assignment. The Navy’s best, brightest and bravest men testing out new technologies and elite techniques in one of the most beautiful parts of the world.. St. Thomas was a hot spot with calypso and tourism exploding, what energy! These days the Navy SEALS get a lot of recognition for the daring things they accomplish, but the UDT was there (here) first and that important history shouldn’t be forgotten.
Donald L. Belcher R.I.P.
1933 - 2016
Lloyd D. Foutch
R.I.P. 1933-2016
Interesting Story of semi-closed circuit dive gear :
Sep 25, 2016
Doc Riojas "SeaDaddy" R.I.P.
------ Original message------
From: Nick Nickelson Date: Sun, Sep 25,
2016 11:07 AM To: 'Al Fletcher';'Al Hale';'Alan Grisemer';'Arles (Steve)
Nash';'Art Alari';'Bill Baker';'Bill Lipman';'Bj Gallagher';'Bob Kelley';'Bud
Burgess';'Carl Swepston';'Chip Maury';'Cliff Hollenbeck';'Craig Marley';'Dante
Stephenson';'Dee Van Winkle';'Dennis McCormack';'Dick Lyon';'Doc Riojas';'Don
Belcher';'Duke Ogden';'Frank Toms';'Franklin Anderson';'Gary Freeman';'Gary
Lanphier';'George Layton';'Glenn Luther Jones';'Greg Kassa';'Gulick John';'Hal
Tune';'Hamilton Vose';'Harry Monahan';'Jack Couture';'James Young';'Jay Henry
Stansell';'Jim Briscoe';'Jim Fox';'Joe DeFloria';'Joe Hutchins';'John C.
Roat';'John Meyer';'Lance Mann';'Larry Miller';'Layton Bassett';'Lou
DeLara';'Martin Mapes';'Marty McNair';'Mike Baumgart';'Mike Von
Alvensleben';'Ned Pugh';'Nick Nickelson';'Pam Russell';'Perry J. Wootten';'R.D.
Russell';'Robert Dickerson';'Rod Feris';'Roger Cook';'Roger Storer';'Ron
Bell';'Ted Kassa';'Tom Copeland';'Tom Malak';'Will Sawyer';'Willy White';
Subject:closed circuit dive gear
An interesting story from Roger Cook so thought I would share it with you.
Thanks Roger.
Thank you for the info on the Mk 5-Mk 6 semi-closed dive gear. I did not swim
that gear when I was in the teams. I was probably in the space between the Mk-5
and the new Mk-6. Tom said that Tim Dowd died using the Mk-5 due to equipment
malfunction. I did use the Mk-6 when I worked with Ocean Systems after the
teams. I made a 700ft.lock-out using the Mk-6 out of the worlds first diver
lock-out submersible Deep Diver in 1967. The Mk-6 was selected to save gas on
that deep lock-out dive. The dive went very well, other than the fact my dive
tender got a middle ear hit during decompression at 450 ft so we had to
pressurize back to 480 ft to compress the bubble. That was my first experience
with that kind of decompression hit. I had to hold my tender against the
bulkhead because he was sick and didn't know what position he was in. A middle
ear hit affects your equilibrium so the diver doesn't know what position he was
in. That hit caused us an extra 12 hours of decompression. The Doctor and the
pilot were in the fwd compartment of the submersible and could see us through a
viewport in the hatch connecting both compartments,and we had communication with
them. The Doctor said the build up of tar from smoking in his ears didn't allow
the gas to pass freely, thus the hit. You had mentioned you thought the teams
were still using the Emerson. The curator Ruth at the museum said they
discontinued the Emerson in the mid 80's and know use a Drager unit. I saw one
at the museum and it is a good looking rig. Again thanks for your input.
On 9/25/2016 , Robert Kelley wrote: MK6 A long time ago I was in the first UDT
12 training class for the MK6. We used the open circuit lesson plan for ditching
and donning. Big mistake. I ingested a lye solution and spent the next thirty
days in Balboa. I still receive VA disability and will never sing in the opera.
Bob
On Sep 25, 2016, at 9:03 AM, retseal sbcglobal.net wrote:
Mk5/Mk6 Some of you may remember I was in a diving accident with the Mk 6 and
almost died. It was due to a transition issue from the Mk 5 to the Mk 6.
Carl
On Sun, Sep 25, 2016 at 12:51 PM, Robert Russell <rdruss
frii.com> wrote: Bob & All What the hell was a Mk 5?..........I thought
that class 28 was still swimming the Pirelli............the diving officer
clamped my emerson supply hose under the back cover when he replaced it after my
pre dive check........I didnt make the 2 min check before going nite nite
. RD
Erasmo Riojas <docrio45 gmail.com>
3 Reply to Robert, Robert, retseal, Nick, Al, Al, Alan, Steve, Art, Bill, Bill,
Betty, Linda, chip, Cliff, Craig, Dante, Dee, Dennis, Cindy, Donald, Duke,
Frank, Franklin, Gary On Sep 25, 2016, at 9:03 AM, retseal@sbcglobal.net wrote:
Mk5/Mk6 Some of you may remember I was in a diving accident with the Mk 6 and
almost died. It was due to a transition issue from the Mk 5 to the Mk 6.
Carl?
I was trained in the use of MK VI semi closed SCUBA at UWSS Key West FL. It is
depth dependent in accordance with the N2/02 mixture. MUST BE totally dry ! We
used barylyme, same CO2 absorbent as we used in the EMERSON and other closed
circuit SUBAs. We did sub lockouts in ST-2 using the MK VI.
go to my website www.sealtwo.org and look
at the photo of SEAL Platoon on the deck of the USS SEALION. That
picture was taken at Panama City FL while training for an OP down in South
America.
here is a little video on the MK VI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kOxVj8ISGU RIO
Erasmo Riojas posted
on the above video:
MKVI semi closed SCUBA, is mixed gas: nitrogen Oxygen at different percentages
deeping on deep of dive. a 40/60 mixture can last about six hours. It must be
closely tested for leaks as the CO2 absorbent CANNOT get wet, PERIOD! I used it
at UWSS Key West FL, and again in Submarine Lockouts with SEAL Team TWO.
Erasmo "Doc" Riojas
https://www.sealtwo.org/
???? and Frank Moncrief ST-2
Gordon Taylor Beaham III R.I.P.
1932 - 2016
Lt-Rt: Willits Sayer, Willy White, Brooks Wrightnoar, Perry Wootten, Pete Witter, Martin McNair
Man's Best Friend by
Frank Moncrief
There was a period during my second tour in Vietnam
(well, there was actually more than one period) when I was afflicted with what
we called, when we were in Vietnam, the “Vietnamese Two Step”. Prefix any
location and you have the same malady. In my case I think the quinine tablets we
had to take to ward off malaria caused my condition. Anyhow, the following
operation was staged during one of these periods.
Craig Sawyer
From: John Chalus To: Rio, The picture labeled Craig Sawyer (really James Rowland) is on page 5. There is another picture on pg 8 labeled Nam SEALs. They are our MST guys from Ben Luc with a couple of VNs. They were MST Det A. I can't remember their names. I do know the Red haired guy was EN3 Dave "Red" Dyer. Again with all the great work you do this is not meant to be a criticism. John
Jim Rowland Solid Anchor Zulu platoon Aug 70-Feb 71
Doc, Some one pointed out that you have a photo of a Vietnam SEAL labeled Craig Sawyer holding a stoner and barefooted. It is really Jim Rowland. You also have the Picture of my platoon labeled perfectly except the VN are not LDNNs. One is a Kit Karson Scout and the other two are VNs who we hired on the recommendation of the previous platoon. You do a terrific job so please don't take this the wrong. John
Assignment SEAL
The murderous Vietnamese sun beat relentlessly down on Seaman Apprentice Jim Rowland's back as he worked on the ship's hot steel deck. The deck reflected and intensified the 105-degree heat. The young sailor had spent a year on the converted tank landing ship ferrying Army troops up and down the Mekong Delta. He soon would head back to the real world and hoped he'd never see the brown waters and green jungles of the delta again. Laughter, mixed with the sound of a high speed outboard engine, caught Rowland's attention. "I saw a SEAL support craft tearing through the water," he recalled. "The SEALs were water skiing and really having a great time.
Right then I knew there were better things in the Navy." Rowland didn't know anything about SEALs, but he found someone who did. A signalman who had been through Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL training. Rowland took his screening test, passed and received orders to BUD/S where he underwent some of the most brutal training the military offers anywhere in the world. It's so tough that fewer than half of the volunteers graduate. He made it through BUD& but it was no easy task. "It was a very physical thing," explained Rowland, "but motivation played an important role, also. I'd say it was about 60 percent mental, 40 percent physical."
Rowland believes that mental toughness is the main thing in the teams. "Anybody can go out there and hump rucksacks, do calisthenics and all that," he said, "but can you do it when some- one's screaming in your ear all day and continually getting you up in the middle of the night? "It's easy to quit-you'll be gone the same day because they don't want to keep you around. It's not like you were forced to do it." Rowland graduated from BUD/S and volunteered for a SEAL team. Half of his classmates were assigned t o SEAL teams, the remainder went to an underwater demolition team. UDTs at that time also were operating in Vietnam.
They differed from SEAL teams in that they conducted operations from submarines and river patrol boats and were primarily tasked with assisting amphibious operations by conducting reconnaissance and demolition work in the Vietnamese waterways. In many instances, however, they patrolled the hinterland as well as the beaches. After assignment to SEAL Team 1 at Coronado, San Diego, Rowland attended a variety of schools which included parachute training, advanced weapons attended a variety of schools which included parachute training, advanced weapons training & intelligence gathering, advanced demolition training and Vietnamese language training. Rowland was assigned to a platoon of 14 SEALs and sent to Vietnam as part of a direct action team.
Only four men in that platoon were combat veterans, but being rookies didn't worry the green SEALs. "The instructors who put us through training were all Vietnam vets," said Rowland. "They had so many war stories to tell that by the time we deployed everyone was really psyched up, nothing scared us. You just wanted to get in there and operate. You wanted to prove yourself." Rowland's platoon proved themselves many times in the 63 combat operations they ran during six months in-country. A mission could last as long as six days, but most were short operations conducted at night. SEALs would leave at dusk, work during the night and return just before dawn.
Many missions were ambushes in which SEALs
would often crouch all night near suspected avenues of enemy movement. "Before they came out with the Rules of Engagement, which stated that you couldn't shoot at anyone unless they fired first-a rule 1 didn't particularly agree with-it was understood that anyone who moved after dark was fair game," said Rowland. "If you were a local, such as a VN
(Vietnamese) farmer, you went home at sundown and stayed there 'til sunup.
Only the bad guys worked at night, so we’d set up ambushes in areas frequented by the VC (Viet
Cong.)
For the rest of the story go to the link below:
http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/archpdf/ah198504.pdf
Jason Kortz R.I.P. Bradley S. Cavner R.I.P.
Man's Best Friend by
Frank Moncrief
There was a period during my second tour in Vietnam
(well, there was actually more than one period) when I was afflicted with what
we called, when we were in Vietnam, the “Vietnamese Two Step”. Prefix any
location and you have the same malady. In my case I think the quinine tablets we
had to take to ward off malaria caused my condition. Anyhow, the following
operation was staged during one of these periods.
A salute to Tom Tarbox
By Tiffany Strong
The Herald Gazette Reporter
http://knox.villagesoup.com/print/Print.cfm?StoryID=165266
CAMDEN (June 27): Tom Tarbox, 74, of Camden began training to become a Navy SEAL even before the SEALs were officially formed. Before the present day SEALs there were UDTs, or underwater demolition teams. The UDTs began training in June 1943 in preparation for the D-Day invasion in Normandy, France. Their efforts were originally focused on demolitions and mine disposal.
|
Tom Tarbox. (Photo by Tiffany Strong) |
Thomas N. Tarbox was born March 7, 1935, in Montana. "My father loved initials," said Tarbox. "The 'N' doesn't stand for anything, he just liked that my initials were TNT. I used to tell people that 'N' stood for 'nothing.'" Tarbox graduated from high school in 1953 and from the University of Colorado in 1957 with a bachelor of arts in geography.
He then enrolled in Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I., and started UDT training. At the time there were no careers in UDT, so he left and went back to the University of Colorado and started studying to become a journalist. In the summer of 1962 he got a call from a friend telling him about the SEALs. His friend told him SEAL stood for "sink enemy and leave."
He left school and enrolled in basic training in Little Creek, Va. Officers and enlisted men train side by side to become SEALs. SEAL actually stands for "sea, air and land," and the training is considered by many military experts to be the toughest training in the world.
At the time basic training lasted for four months. It was very
physically demanding, Tarbox said. "We ran everywhere. There was
a lot of swimming and the instructors constantly harass you."
The harassment is necessary to see if a man is going to break when
things get tough, Tarbox said.
There were 91 men in his class when it started, but only 20 finished. "I was confident I could make it through," said Tarbox. "I would look at the next guy and think if he can make it then so can I."
Tarbox said men who are afraid of the water or heights or who are claustrophobic won't make it. "I'm a strong swimmer, " he said. "I did a lot of swimming with my brother when I was young.
A man may drop out of the course at any time, Tarbox said. To do this a man strikes a brass ship's bell three times and places his helmet down on the ground. Most classes lose about 80 percent of their trainees due to dropouts or injuries. Tarbox said winter dropout rates are higher due to the cold, and he was lucky his class was in the summer.
Tarbox did make it through and was eventually named commander of the Basic Underwater Demolitions/SEAL (BUD/S) instructors.
The only time Tarbox ever lost a man was in May 1965 in a skydiving accident. "When you skydive, a man who is free falling will wave his arms to let other skydivers know that he is going to open his parachute," Tarbox said. For some reason Melvin Melochick, a man in his late 20s, did not do this, Tarbox said. The man above Ochick, Jerry Todd, fell into Ochick's chute, which caused it to malfunction. Ochick died of a broken neck.
"He was my teammate," Tarbox said.
In 1971 Tarbox volunteered for service in Vietnam. The SEALs were initially deployed in and around Da Nang, training and supporting the South Vietnamese in naval special warfare, including reconnaissance and combat diving.
Much of what Tarbox did during his career is still classified, he said. His son Wit, who lives in Tuscon, Ariz., said of his father, "He didn't go into details of what he did or where he was doing it. He's a man of honor and never shared anything that wasn't to be shared."
Emails: 28JUNE2011
From: Franklin Anderson
to: Tom, David, Maynard, Joe, Dan,
I have a question for Tom, on page 8, Harry Beal makes the statement “Tom Tarbox signed our Plank owners plank on 1 January l962.
I question this statement for the fact that= SEAL TWO wasn’t in existence on that Date, and If I am Correct John Callahan reported on board and established SEAL TWO on 8 January 62.
Tom, can you enlighten me on this statement, as you weren’t in SEAL TWO, at that time. Thanks - Franklin
From:Tom Tarbox
to: Franklin, David, Maynard, Joe, Dan,
Guys,
I haven’t received my copy of Vol. 43, No. 2 of the BLAST, and so haven’t been able to read Harry’s letter, but I think I know to what he was referring. I reported to SEAL Team TWO on 27 Aug 62, and so wasn’t a plank owner by any standard.
I think Harry was referring to sometime in the period 1977-79, when I was CSO of NSWG-2. Dante Stephensen said that all those who had orders to SEAL Team TWO when it stood up (a number of those people still had operational commitments with their previous Teams—mostly UDT-21, but others as well) should be plank owners.
I looked into it, and agreed with Dante, and so they put all those names on a display (I’ve seen it, but have forgotten what it was) at the Museum. Hope this clarifies it.
Tom
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from: Dante throc [at] bellsouth DOT
net
to: "Erasmo \"Doc\" Riojas" <docrio45 [at] gmail
DOT com>
date: Thu, Jun 30, 2011 at 10:53 PM
subject RE: “Tom Tarbox signed our Plank owners plank on 1 January l962.
Thanks, Doc.
You can add the below, if you wish, to Tommy’s comments.
ST2’s commissioning from Dante S. Stephensen; yes, I was there): Ours occurred in early January, 1962, (I believe the first Monday after January 1; maybe the 6th). ST2 was only given about 38 men which included 3 Officers; (Skipper John Callahan, XO Roy Boehm and myself for
OPS/TR).
ST1 was commissioned, I believe, with the proper 50 men and 10 officers but verify that with Dave
DelGuidice, ST1’s first skipper.
For ST2’s commissioning and UDT 22’s re-commissioning, UDT 21 was not overflowing with teammates, so we had to get some guys from the fleet like LDOs Tex Hager & Red Cannon &
SKC. Hoot Andrews (who we stole from Rickover’s nuclear fleet). We also drew from returning team cruises and next 2 training classes.
The plank holder question: At the request of some late arrivals I did research with Navy Regs in DC. Initially we did not consider late arrivals Plank Owners, (those who arrived after January, 1962). However, I was directed by the powers-to-be in DC that if orders were written & DATED prior to our January commissioning, even if the men arrived late, they were to be considered
Plank owners. Some of our guys, including Rudy, were not happy with that, but we had to follow Navy
Regs. I wish I could easily give you those names, but I’m so damn old, I have forgotten my own name. If it is important to anyone, I ought to be able to look it up somewhere.
Respectfully, Dante Shapiro Stephensen, 1st Ops and TR Officer, ST2; UDT 21 “2nd to none” platoon; Company Commander, UDTRA Class 22, east: PS. We graduated 11 of about 126. Andy Anderson was our honor man. I was told Chief John Rabbit and I tied for 2nd but never saw that in writing and no one gave me a trophy.
Happy 50th Guys. And remember; growing old ain’t for Sissies!
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WEBMASTER's NOTE: Dante, You don need no stinkin trophy! We believe you!
Jason Kortz R.I.P.
"The Only Easy Day was Yesterday !" HooYah!
Most sports only need one ball. Mine takes both. Skydive!
Jason Kortz R.I.P.
Navy SEAL dies in parachute jump' Jason Kortz; incident
occurred during training in SW Riverside Co.
By Jeanette Steele .March 18, 2015
x
A Navy SEAL,
Jason
Kortz, died Wednesday in a parachute jump incident
during training in Perris, in southern Riverside County.
The Coronado-based Naval Special Warfare Group 1 command released the news
Wednesday afternoon . The sailor is assigned to a West Coast SEAL unit.
The Associated Press, quoting anonymous Navy officials, is reporting that the
sailor's parachute malfunctioned.
No other details are known.
Another parachute training jump turned deadly in June. Chief Special Warfare
Operator Bradley S. Cavner of Coronado died from injuries sustained during a
jump in El Centro.
SAN DIEGO – The U.S. Navy SEAL who died Wednesday from injuries sustained during an accident while conducting parachute jump training operations in Riverside County has been identified as Special Warfare Operator 3rd Class Jason Kortz, 29, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Firefighters received an emergency call at about 9 a.m. Wednesday and found a body in a dry riverbed near Richard Street and Highway 74 in Perris. “Jason distinguished himself consistently throughout his career.
He was the epitome of the quiet professional in all facets of his life, and he leaves an inspiring legacy of natural tenacity and focused commitment for posterity,” said Capt. Todd Seniff, Commodore of Naval Special Warfare Group One. “Losing such a promising special operator is a tragedy, not just for his family and the Naval Special Warfare community, but also for this Nation who needs men of such uncompromising character in these uncertain times.”
Kortz enlisted in the Navy Oct. 2, 2012 and graduated from boot camp at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois on Nov. 20, 2012, according to a news release from Naval Special Warfare Group One in Coronado. On Sept. 22, 2014, Kortz completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL and SEAL Qualification Training in Coronado with Class 303.
He was then assigned to a West Coast-based SEAL Team. Kortz was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Kortz is survived by his wife, parents and brother. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident.
A 36-year-old man died at the Perris facility on Nov. 29, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported. Two skydivers had died there in 2013, when the Press-Enterprise reported that 18 people had died in skydiving incidents in the Perris-Lake Elsinore area since 2000. No mention was released as to the type of parachute he was using. The small, zero porosity canopies are very fast to respond and very unforgiving to the slightest adjustment with the steering toggles.
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Bradley S. Cavner R.I.P.
Parachute work is one of the SEALs' bread-and-butter skills. The SEAL name is
short for sea, air and land -- describing the three areas where the Navy's elite
fighters go when called.
SEALs commonly do parachute training around the Southwest. The public face of
their parachuting is the Leap Frogs demonstration team, which performs at events
as a marketing tool for the Navy.
From: Peter Slempa
to: Nick
IF I AM CORRECT, THE DROP ZONE AT ELSINORE WAS NOT AND IS
NOT A CERTIFIED TRAINING AREA FOR SEAL FREE FALL TRAINING. IT IS OPERATED BY
CIVILIANS AND THEIR SAFETY RECORD HAS NEVER BEEN ANY THING TO BRAG ABOUT, EVEN
BACK IN THE SIXTIES.THE DROP ZONE NEAR BROWN FIELD WAS AND MAY BE STILL THE
OFFICIAL DROP ZONE FOR SEAL AIR BORNE OPS. UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A QUALIFIED
INSTRUCTOR.
AS AN ADDED NOTE, I WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN OBTAINING A FREE LEASE OF THE BROWN
FIELD PROPERTY FROM A OLD WOMEN WHO LIVED IN EL CAJON. THAT LEASE WAS STILL IN
EFFECT WHEN I LEFT THE TEAMS IN 1963.
PETE SLEMPA
Pete Slempa email 20Mar2015
Rear Adm.Sean Pybus, Navy SEAL: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/06/navy-new-seal-commander-063011w/
Tommy
Hatchett &nbs
p;
?, ?, ?, Flores
Bill Daugherty
Jim and Linda Watson
Frank Flynn
Lt
to Rt: ? , Jim Tipton, Jack Lynch, ? , "Doc"
Cox, Rudy Boe
Carrick
Cheney & ShaunChittick
Chad
Williams & AUbrey O'Boyle
Michael Fazio
Darren Hicks
Darren Hicks
Eric Greitens
John
Chalus
Joe Hunter
Jesse
and Tony Olivera
ST-1
get awarded PUC
Noa Evans & Ben Thomas
John
Sandoz Mike DeTraglia
Larry LePage &
Frank Flynn
Mark Divine
MikeNelson
Rudy Boesch & Doc Cox
Kevin
Farrell
Larry Bailey A.Dee Clark Bill Daugherty
Arles Nash
Lon Franklin
Brothers In Arms Buried Together
October 4, 2010 4:07 PM
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6927119n
Travis Manion and Brendan Looney were
roommates at the naval academy and became as close as brothers. One
became a Marine stationed in Iraq, the other, a Navy Seal in
Afghanistan. Both have died and were laid to rest side-by-side in
Arlington's National Cemetery. David Martin reports.
Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6927119n#ixzz11bPxbngn
also:
http://www.dreadnaughts-bluejackets.com/links.php
How SEALs Carried Out Their Mission
By Ann Scott Tyson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, April 13, 2009
The operation to rescue Capt. Richard Phillips involved dozens of Navy SEALs, who parachuted from an aircraft into the scene near dark Saturday, landing in the ocean.
The SEALs were part of a group of Special Operations forces involved in the effort, according to military officials. The SEALs set up operations on the USS Bainbridge, which had been communicating with the four pirates via radio and had used smaller boats to make deliveries of food and water to their lifeboat.
Yet the pirates were growing increasingly agitated, the officials said. At one point Saturday, the pirates opened fire on one of the smaller U.S. Navy craft that approached. As the seas grew rougher, the Bainbridge offered to tow the lifeboat to calmer waters, and the pirates agreed, linking up the lifeboat to the destroyer with a towing cable that left 75 to 80 feet between the two vessels. Phillips at the time was tied up in the lifeboat, having been bound -- and occasionally beaten -- by the pirates ever since he had attempted to escape by jumping into the water on Friday, the officials said.
Meanwhile, one of the pirates, estimated to be between 16 and 20 years old, asked to come aboard the Bainbridge to make a phone call. He had been stabbed in the hand during an altercation with the crew of the Maersk Alabama and needed medical care. "He effectively gave himself up," a senior military official said.
The Navy then allowed that pirate to speak with the others in hopes that he could persuade them to give up. The three other pirates, however, showed signs of growing irritation, as the Bainbridge, 18 miles from shore, towed the lifeboat further out to sea, the senior military official said. "They had no promise of money, clearly no passage. The one ticket they had was the captain," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter on the record. "In the last discussion, they said, 'If we don't get what we want, we will kill the captain,' " the official said.
Soon afterward, two pirates moved to one of the hatches of the lifeboat and stuck their heads out. The third pirate advanced toward the captain and pointed his AK-47 straight at Phillips's back, the rifle touching it or inches away, the official said. U.S. military observers thought that Phillips was about to be shot. SEAL snipers, who were positioned on a deck at the stern of the Bainbridge, an area known as the fantail, had the three pirates in their sights. The on-scene commander gave the snipers authority to fire. "As soon as the snipers had a clear shot at the guy who had the rifle, they shot him and the other two in the hatches," the senior military official said.
A member of the Special Operations team slid down the tow line into the water and climbed aboard the lifeboat. Phillips was then put in a small craft and taken to the Bainbridge.
Harry Humphries
By Captain R. L.
Crossland, (SEAL) U.S. Navy (Retired)
Somali pirates held Maersk Alabama Captain Phillips in the ship's lifeboat, here towed by the USS Bainbridge after the crisis (with the USS Boxer [LHD-4]) in the background). It was likely the careful application of psychological-warfare techniques that set the pirates' defeat in motion.
To rescue Captain Richard Phillips of the merchant vessel Maersk Alabama in April 2009, the rescue force needed to maintain communication with the pirates, secure their cooperation, reduce their level of vigilance, and take the ship's lifeboat in tow. It may be that these four objectives were achieved through judicious application of "Pop Tart" psychological operations.
In view of its likeness to honey-glazed Middle-Eastern pastries, the Kellogg "pocket pie" would have been more appealing to many Somalis than a Meals Ready to Eat package. Regional experts point out that in Arabic cultures, feeding others is a sign of good breeding, and that food and glory are strongly linked. Fasting in that part of the world is all about sacrifice and humility. Perhaps the warship's crew thought pocket pies could influence pirate conduct. Fed men with glory in their eyes are inclined to be more cooperative than men who are humiliated and hungry.
Captain Crossland served as a SEAL in Vietnam. In 2002, he was mobilized as a reserve officer for duty with Naval Special Warfare Group One in the Northern Persian Gulf and Afghanistan.
go to this link below for the rest of the article.
July 2007 Dan Zamuda, RIP
Hey Rio . we went on liberty together in Siagon...and we had to babysit Joe DeMartino...I was sent there this tour to be an advisor for the Vietnamese Seals.I served In Hoi An and was relieved by Mike Thorton and Tom Morris.
Small world..LOL..I was Tommy roomate for a few years in VA beach..Went thru class 30 UDTR in Little creek..theres thats it..
Fire in the Hole. Dan
Danny Mcevoy..I retired after 28years in 1989
Doc
Bill
(SOB)
Our
Teammate Daniel "Mud" Zmuda will be laid to rest in
Class 20 E.C. Class
20 East Coast
Kerry King Ernest Szokes
Kerry King
Adm. Ray SMith
Hershel Davis
SEAL
114 CLass
Aviles
Dionel
Pete "The Pirate"
Bernie , Jose, Mike
Jimmy Breits Precher
Richard Marcinko & his Kids
Bob Kerry
Pete "The Pirate" Coralan
lt. to
rt.:Augie Maynard,Ed Schmidt, Frank Scolise, Bill Bruhmuller, Hugh Landsen, UNK.
Doc Riojas, Eagle Gallagher, DeepDive Deaks
Bill "S.O.B." Daugherty Cabo Mexico Doc Riojas, Eagle Gallagher, DeepDive Deaks
Bill "S.O.B." Daugherty Cabo Mexico
Doc Riojas, Eagle Gallagher, DeepDive Deaks
Bill "S.O.B." Daugherty Cabo Mexico
Erasmo "Doc"Riojas eating a VN HOT
pepper; Chuck Jessie next to him.
Erasmo "Doc" Riojas on SEAL STAB being towed by the Mike Boat. washing
MUD off gear and getting ready for the next Operation.
Erasmo Riojas & Jesse Ventura
Erasmo
"Doc" Riojas , Lourdes Tolentino , Bob Shouse and Rosalie Shouse
My
"SeaDaddy" Bob Shouse and wife Rosalie and their Grandaughter Michelle
Jack
Walston
Clark D. Stuart Jack
Charlie Bump, ???,
& Chuck Detmer
W. M. Shepherd
Christopher J. Cassidy His
BIO thanks to Bill Hoopes
Della & Jim Hazelwood
Below Photo: UDT -7 Team Picture, Maui T.H. Oct 1944, Front Row: Wakefield, Phelps, Flynn, Rayman, Spellman Stegmeyer, Turci, Burke, Robbins, Mc Allister, Limber, Absher, Wilson, Richards. NEXT TO FRON ROW: Millner, Wisecup, Ridenour, Howard, SMith, Brady, Holbrook, Leinart, Pastermack, Vogel, Gresham, Rice, McColgin, Ferguson, Lott NEXT TO REAR ROW: Arnold, Mann, Sprague, barrett, Turner, Cruny, SPencer, Timmerman, Sporer, King, Feldman, More, O'Neil, Stemmerich, Mondanaro, Deny. REAR ROW: Schuleter, Thompson, Anderson, Franck, Grass, George, Smith, Rhodes, Whipple, Gartell, Richter, Clark, Spearin, Bennett, Sichling
CLASS 14 Graduation Day, NAB, Little Creek VA.: Front left (front) Rossman, R. Ray, F. Salerno, J. Hol?wilson, L. ??, Becker, J. Shortt, R. Ballard (ACK) ENS Moranidis (Royal hellenic Navy), J. letchworth, R. Hatfield, C. Bond, R. Krug, R. Tullas, R. Grimes, S. Kopac, K. McIntyre, (note: A. Szell and R. Brownson finished, but were not in the picture)
CLASS
6 E.C. Lt. to Rt: Nari, Tussey, KIM(ROK),Davis, Slagel, Luffelholtz, Peterson,
Steve Bourecksky (instructor) Logan, Lee (ROK), Hazelwood, ???,
Fauche, Clark, Bauche (Back) all instructors: Yankulov, Sloan, Hughes,
Moorhouse, Hughey, Dennison, Barber, GMC "Tex" Modsell (senior inst. ,
NCDU normandy) picture by Jim Hazelwood.
These photos from the USNavy movie: "Men with Green Faces." ~ 1968 Little Creek VA. SEALs from ST-2 getting attaboy awards. The only HEROES came home in body bags. Viet?
Bill Langley & Tocci lt to rt: Mike
Bill Langley and Tocci
Boynton, Tocci,Langley,Riojas, Rowell,
Jessie, Peterson, ? , PT Schwartz
Moose Boinott, & Doc Riojas
Pete Girard
Pete Peterson
"Shorty" Long
;
Archie Grayson Tocci,
Mike Boynton; Jim Finley
Jack Fowler
Dave Bodkin and Ted Kassa
28 Oct 2007
Gday Rio,
Maybe this will help Andy Hayden with his documentation problem.
I Remember some of these guys from our 1967 trip in country We had a plt.and did
break in OPS with them in Cantho for month or so before going up to Vin
Long , Lt White was OinC an CWO Boils With us He may remember more details
about Andy Hayden's WIA since he was out from the East Coast!! He still in the
Coronado A.O. I due Remember Charlie Bump! Brian Rand was also in my PLT.Joe
Casmar,Van Orden Teddy Mathison, Got out an Died in Diving Acidient off
Australia Going for the big bucks. They got pined to the bottom with gear that
fell off an oil rig .Ten years in the Navy shot too hell?
Only God Knows!
Only God Knows!
All the best, Dave " Kaloki " Bodkin, (SEAL) USN Ret.
Jim Tipton, Hightower, Jack Lynch Tom
Keith ST-2 'nam
Ephrayim J. Aven
Jerry Sweezy Jr.
Tom Keith & Doc Riojas
Kevin Keith, Tom Keith, Doc Rio, Brian Keith
George Doran (SEAL) Plank Owner ST-2
Rear Adm Joseph Kernan
Dry and Martin
MCPO Andrew Tafelski III (click on photo to read story)
Nix White
Adm Mc Guire
Larry Summerfield II
Seth Stone Seth
Stone
A SEAL Motivator
L to R: Mark Boyer, Jeff Moran, Kirk McConville, BIll Rachman, Joe Hohmann, Paul
Barry, Jerry Field, Ron Flockton, Don Tocci
S. Helvenston
Class 142
H.S."Bud" Thrift
Henry Thrift
Jun 16 2013
to me, Doc Rio
Yes I was a Mustang.
Made E-7, E-8 and E-9 but never wore the uniform.
Made W1, W2,W3 and W-4. Never wore the W-4 uniform.
Made LTJG and LT.
Retired with 22 yrs in 1982
Bobby Coleman gave me a 1/2 ass initiation while I was defending a new chief in Miami. I was a W-3 then
Happy Father's Day to you.
XXX
Henry "Bud" Thrift
Lt to rt.TOP row: Jay Stansel, Ken & Lorraine Palmer, Bill Holloway, Bill Daugherty & Beverly, Phyllis & Troy Vaught, Bob Mackey & Jan Turpen, Melissa & Larry Lyons, Pam & Ken Abasolo. Bottom row LT to RT: Olga & Bill Miller (Rat), Dee Clark, Debbie & Roger Guerra
Walter Diaczenko
Admiral Joseph Kernan
Adm.Eric T. Olson
Eric T. Olson
Chris Cassidy SEAL Astronaut
Ensign Damon Woo U.S. Navy SEAL
Damon Woo
Elbert Tillman Jr.
Eric Olson
ROBERT HARWARD
Joseph Maguire
Rich Machowicz
Eric T. Olson
"Moki" Martin
Monsoor RIP
Harry Humphries
James Erik Suh
Special
Operator (SEAL) Second Class James Erik Suh was a 1999 UF Graduate who
died in support of combat Operation Red Wings on June 28, 2005 in Kunar
Province, Afghanistan. For a full biography courtesy of the Gainesville
Sun please click here.
The UF Naval Special Warfare Club is dedicating a Memorial to James Suh
on June 28, 2011. The dedication ceremony will be held at Van Fleet Hall
on campus at 10 AM, with a small reception to follow.
L-R: SEALs KIAs, except Marcus Luttrell "Lone
Survivor"(on extreme rt.) Afganistan
Have you seen some of the pictures on my UWSS Key West Web Site? to see them go HERE!
A Story by Dennis "Doc" Borlek about James R. Nelson, and his Korean & Vietnam Experience. Ken Garrett knows of Mr. Nelson from their UDT Korea Police Action Escapades.
April 2009
Doc Rio,
James Rad Nelson went from SR to Capt. with a 8th grade formal education. Was UDT in the Korean war as a BMSN, locked out of a Sub, blew a power plant in N.Korea and his team missed pick up, had to evade for several days, maybe longer, I'm not sure of that.
Any way he made Chief then Ens. Limited Line, petitioned that and was granted Unlimited Line. As a junior officer he was CO of an ATF and had Command of the Conserver ARS39 out of Pearl and eventually Commanding Officer Panama City.
He's one hell of a great guy, lives just outside of Panama City.
Rad Nelson was my boss when I was on the rivers as Independent Duty Corpsman with River Assault Division 112,
I was FMF prior to that in '66. He and I were the only ones in 112 with any prior combat experience, we are very tight to this day. We were supporting the Marines in I Corps, the only Assault Division up there.
I feel that I can talk to you because you are a brother Corpsman and have "been there". I'll bet that if you went through my family pictures, you won't find more than two or three of me in-country. I'll send it but please do not put it up on the internet.
I have one good picture that was taken on the pontoon of the USS Benewah before a beer call. The gent with the mustache is James Rad Nelson, my "Boss" on the rivers. Please don't put my picture on your web site.
He was Korea UDT (Two Silver Stars there and Navy Cross 'Nam, five Purple Hearts total) we had a deal which we kept "wherever you go, I go", he retired as CO Navy School of Deep Diving and Salvage, we were in some pretty heavy shit together and are close friends today. Don't expect him to be around much longer as he is in his eighties now.
We also worked with our army and the
RVN Marines. Did a lot of work keeping the river clear of mines, not
always successful. I'll attach a pict. of one of the mines we
captured. in the picture it is less than 1/2 out of the water. It's an
old Polaroid so quality isn't so great. The mine was Russian and EOD
said that it was large enough to sink any ship in deep water.
Was magnet, acoustic and pressure influence all interacting and could
be set to detonate anywhere from the first boat over to the tenth and
anywhere in between.
photo by: "Doc" Borlec
I was undergoing training with FMF Force RECON. We went to UWSS in Key West FL. Later I finished all aspects of Diving Physics/Medicine along with Chamber Treatment Operations while with SubDevGpONE, wanted to go all the way but BUMED said no, I had to go back to SSN's.
While in S.D. got to 2nd Class Diver's School and learned to cut and weld, that's as far as I got. Pissed me off as I could have been part of the new Deep Diving Research Unit at Ballast Point. HMC (DMT) Miller had gone AWOL with a Navy Capt. POW's wife and there was an opening, I just didn't have the pull with BUMED that SubPac had.
I did get to work with TriMix and lectured at the
Commercial Diving School, Calif. Mens Prison Chino in Medical Aspects
of Diving etc. Was a Licensed Treatment Chamber Operator in Calif.
Dennis "Doc" Borlek
Doc Rio,
I trained in Coronado when their training was cut short in Nov
1950. All class members AND instructors were immediately
shipped to Korea to serve with UDT-1.
During the Korean war James R. Nelson was in UDT-3. This
is verified by several documents I have in my possession. It was UDT-1
and UDT-3 that handled the Korean War, with UDT-5 being commissioned
later doing I don't know what.
About; James
R. Nelson, BM3 -He also trained in Coronado
-Assigned (PCS – Permanent Change of Station) to UDT-3 Dec 1949
(presumably upon graduation from training) -Assigned (PCS –
Permanent Change of Station) to UDT-1 8/9/1950.
James Rad Nelson
However, there was never any group in Korea that had to be left behind
and "evade capture for several days or longer" during the
Korean War. Only one Frog during the Korean gig got left behind and he
was dead.
Ken Garrett
Doc,
You can find my photo here:
http://users.frii.com/rdruss/PhotoAlbumGarrett.html
These photos are from my personal album, or rather just all that I have. So you will be copying my own photos, not somebody else's.
You can pick me out in the photos to the far
top right and second row by the Strand sign. In the top right photo is
Steve Bouresky and my swim partner (now both dead also), Paul
Brewton. I am a dangerous man to be around. I'm 80.
Ken Garrett
Doc Riojas & Joe Singleton UDT WWII
Schmidt May 2009
Timothy P. Richardt
Ttimothyprichardt
Jim Josse's Photos of Frank Flynn in Vietnam
----- Original Message -----
From: Embarq Customer
To: doc rio
Sent: Saturday, August 08, 2009 3:42 PM
Subject: Re: the photos you sent me are here:
Doc
Image #1. Kien Giang PRU Leadership (The Original Bad Boys). Third
from left = Mr. Hien-PRU Commander. Tuan-PRU interpreter. Frank. Mr.
Diep-Deputy PRU Commander. Others-Platoon Leaders.
Image#2. Left=Stan Rodiman-RD Advisor. Frank. Bob Babb-RD Advisor.
Image#3. Right to left. Sgt. Jim Fosse-RD Advisor. Frank. Unknown Army
Sgt. Mr. Diep. Tuan.
Image#4. Right to left. Bob Babb. Jim Fosse. PRU interpreter. Mr. Diep.
Unknown PRU. Tuan. Mr. Hien, Cobra Pilot. Frank. 4th from left=Stan
Rodiman.
Doc-
The pictures look great. You can add my e-mail
address in case someone wants more info. Keep up the good work
P.S. My last name is spelled Fosse. email:
jimfosse [at] embarqmail.com
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Steve A.Hlberg Decoster
David
Fitzgerald
David Tannery Rob ROy
From Capt. Larry Bailey's Files
Capt. Larry Bailey's Stories
Per Erick "Swede" Tornblom put on report on Vieques Puerto Rico
"Swede" Per Eric Tornblom taught me this song while in Puerto Rico. /s/ Larry Bailey
Don King Jack Lynch
Jerry Todd
Eric Prince
Lt to Rt: Dennis Gaughan, Russ Geraldi, Brian Mulholland,
SEALs at Coronado
CHad Buck, Ron Seiple and Rep. John Mizuno
Jessse Ventura
SEALs in 'nam
Tom Keith
Jesse Ventura in Predator Movie
Ken Abasolol's Wedding: Lt. to Rt: Dan Potts, Roger Guerra, Ken Abasolo, Bob
Ross, Mike Macready, Larry Lyons
SEAL
TWO Demo, Lil Creek VA.
Carl Swepston and company
"Big Al" Ashton & John Friesch
DanielCnossen
CLass 16 Little Creek VA
Daniel Cnossen W.I.A.
Howard E. Wasdin DC
Michael P. Wood
L-R: Roger Guerra, Troy Vaught, Wally Diacenzko
L-R: George Clarke, ? , ? , Greg
Flores
Roger GUerra and Jimmy "Gator" Algier
Roger GUerra and Jimmy " Gator" Algier 1970 P.R.
??, Rudy Boesch, Doc Patchurick, Terry
Sullivan, prone on airmat Jack Lynch, Jim Finley & Neidrauer
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Doc,
You can do your magic with any
pic that I send to you.
Have added a few more.
MyTho pool, L t R: Unk, Rudy, Doc Pachurick,T.
Sullivan,J. Lynch (on belly), J. Findley, B. Neidrauer
Pic of the 4 of us, LtR Hammerle, Neidrauer,
Bai(Cheiu Hoi), T. Sullivan
Pic of PRU Advisors Jan 1970
Sitting front M.Collins
Kneeling L t R UNK, J. Tolison, M. Walsh, A. Huey, P. Slempa
2nd row kneeling E. Jones, UNK, Harris
Standing, J Hammerle, Army guy, UNK, D. Drady, Abrahmson,Welch, Whittum,
Mihatsch
PRUs,top row,left: Jerry Hammerle
The group pic with all in Uniform was UDT 21 Oct 1960
Have the names but would be a lot to ID tonite.
Thanks Amigo
Jerry Hammerle
LCDR Mack Boynton ; LeRoy Hult, Richard Brereton, Robert
Fisher, Jack Carson, Johnny Weismuller
Mack
Boynton, Cpo Baxter, Earl ;Lucio DeLaCahda, Maxwell, ???
Hungnam Korea
Joe
Metzger.
passing of Paul T. Aspas, 87, of Birdsnest, VA on 18 October 2013.
Paul was an early graduate of training at Fort Pierce, FL as well as Maui, HI.
He served in NCDU-1 during WWII and was an original member with UDT-22.
Jack Walston
Owner, Original Navy SEAL Physical Training Course.
Houston, Texas Area Health, Wellness and Fitness
Original Navy SEAL Physical Training Course, Fit America Foundation
Education
U.S. Navy BUD/S Class #180
Jack Walston
Owner, Original Navy SEAL Physical Training Course.
Houston, Texas Area Health, Wellness and Fitness
Original Navy SEAL Physical Training Course, Fit America Foundation
Education
U.S. Navy BUD/S Class #180
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An unsentimental personal account of the Vietnam War. With the assistance of magazine writer Riebling, retired SEAL master chief Keith chronicles a tale that's oddly refreshing in its clear-eyed bluntness. The author and his tough-as-nails team had jobs to do, he writes, carrying out missions protecting friendly villages from Viet Cong attacks; they simply did not have time to let the brutal surroundings affect them.
The narrative opens with the SEALs surrounded by explosions and tracer fire as they wait to be extracted by helicopter. Keith was not consumed by fear, as most people would be. Instead, he reflected on how the red tracer fire was "as beautiful as any Fourth of July fireworks display" and how lucky he felt to be doing a job he loved. The son of a Navy chief and the grandson of two Army veterans, from an early age Keith dreamed of entering the military, and his determination and skill led him to the elite Navy SEALs.
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Mi Vida Loca - Copyright ©1998 - All Right Reserved Webmaster: Erasmo "Doc" Riojas email: docrio45@gmail.com
Hello Folks,
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.
If interested in looking further, just click this link and as-if by magic you
will be transported to Amazon and the books listing. It’s available in both
print and Kindle formats.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Indomitable-Patriot-Submariners-Volume/dp/1530641098?ie=UTF8&keywords=carl%20mclelland&qid=1459365936&ref_=sr_1_4&s=books&sr=1-4
I hope, regardless of your decision to check out the book, everybody is healthy
and prosperous.
All Best, Carl McLelland, Vietnam Veteran
One of our guys, although he had the
misfortune of going Army instead of Navy, has become a writer in About the Author
Carl’s professional career began as an
Army and then FAA air traffic controller. He advanced from a small
radar van in the Central Highlands of Vietnam to the TRACON in one of
our nation’s busiest airports. He also became a commercial pilot and
flight instructor, retiring after thirty-nine years of flying. By 1986
he was experiencing severe burnout. He put himself through the police
academy, resigned from the FAA and became a deputy Sheriff in Reno,
Nevada. He retired after a distinguished career on the street. Not
only the cop on the beat, Carl became a renowned traffic accident
reconstructionist on his departments Major Accident Investigation
Team, as well as a highly acclaimed crime scene investigator.
Throughout his life Carl has been a student of the paranormal and
often experienced the effects of the supernatural in his personal
life. In 2012 he became involved in the saga of the haunted Allen
House in Monticello, Arkansas and its resident spirit, Ladell Allen
Bonner. The result of dozens upon dozens of paranormal interactions
with Ladell led Carl to write his first book about Ladell’s life and
death. Writing that first book sparked a latent avocation in his life:
writing. Carl has always been a connoisseur of military history, and
that interest began a new direction for his writing. This latest book
is the story of Wendell Fertig, and the beginning of a thrilling new
series, 'Behind The Lines.' While the stories are fictionalized, they
are all based upon factual military history. Join in with Carl and
enjoy his books as you gain an interesting new insight in what war is
all about.
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THE INDOMITABLE PATRIOT Fertig, The Guerrilla General
Doc Riojas Comment: Once i started reading this book, i have find myself hard to putting it down! because of my very old age (84 yr old eyes and at the end of being able to correct my vision) I find that the way the paragraphs are other important text are spaced to be extremly easy to read.
Having retired from the Navy and traveled to that part of the orient reminds me of my days as a guerrilla combatant as part of the Navy SPecial Warfare serving as a Navy SEAL in the Jungles of Vietnam.
The author is equally as good a military writter as Tom Clancy. This story may possibly be material for a great movie similar to the the movie produced about the POW rescue in WWII by Filipino Guerilla fighters and the U.S. Army Rangers. "The Great Raid"
Do not wait to buy it tomorrow, order it today ! It was recommended to me by CDR R.D. Thomas (recommended for the Medal of Honor by the US Army, but our politically correct US Navy downgraded it to a Navy Cross. SHame on them !