Criteria The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces in the grades of lieutenant commander (or major) and below. It is awarded for meritorious service or achieveme... The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces in the grades of lieutenant commander (or major) and below. It is awarded for meritorious service or achievement in either combat or noncombat based on sustained performance or specific achievement of a superlative nature but which does not warrant a Navy Commendation Medal or higher. It may not be awarded for service involving participation in aerial flight after January 1, 1969. MoreHide
Comments Basic End-of-Tour award. Not a lot of Atta-Boy to show for 13 years under the DEVGRU umbrella. Because most of our programs were highly classified there weren't a lot of Brag-Rags or public recogn... Basic End-of-Tour award. Not a lot of Atta-Boy to show for 13 years under the DEVGRU umbrella. Because most of our programs were highly classified there weren't a lot of Brag-Rags or public recognition passed around. (Look at my commissioning photo for example.) However, I did somehow manage to advance from PO1 through O-3 without leaving the tent. MoreHide
Best Friends
LCDR Todd Benedict LT Rick Barnes LT Ron Renner (Now there's trouble) LT Brian Kessel MMCM(SS) Corky Palmer
Best Moment
Getting to be a sideline player in the HMS TITANIC venture in conjunction with Dr."Admiral" Ballard of Woods Hole fame.
Retired Oct 1987
Worst Moment
The Space Shuttle Challenger explosion.
Cleanup of mercury spill from DSV Sea Cliff on M/V Energy Service 1. What an ecological mess!
M/V ES-1 ran over DSV Sea Cliff and almost sunk her. She fortunately stayed on the surface with only about 10 pounds of positive buoyancy. I had done a hard sell job on one of my Det Bravo troops to accept orders to Sea Cliff and stay in the Navy. He was on board for his FIRST dive when this happened and consequently didn't think too much of my advice.
Come to think of it, this didn't seem to be one of Sea Cliff's better years.
Chain of Command
COMSUBDEVGRUONE (DSU hadn't been invented yet) OIC: LCDR Todd Benedict AIOC: Me
Other Memories
Turtle was an independent command. We were getting the boat rebuilt at Lockheed Ocean Labs (LOL) after a battery fire put her in a box for about a year.
Because of this lay-up I also served as the CSDG-1 Deep Submergence Staff Officer (N-2).
Criteria The Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal may be awarded to service members who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding achievem... The Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal may be awarded to service members who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding achievement or meritorious service (but not of sufficient nature to warrant a higher decoration). MoreHide
Comments
The guy I replaced as department head was a real dip, so by comparison I really looked good.
Best Friends
LT Jim Cavin CWO4 Bill McCoy LT Starr Horton LT Patric Vachel (Pat) Dowler (green M&Ms) LT Dan Wardrop (now Dr. Wardrop, MD)
Best Moment
Blow-out Christmas party at the Hotel Del Coronado. Paid for by proceeds garnered by (then) CO CAPT "Hollywood Art" VanSong (dec) for letting a Hollywood movie studio use our sonar trainer as a prop for the movie "Firefox" starring Clint Eastwood. This was never approved through proper Navy channels.)
Worst Moment
LCDR Greg Schwaller (XO). Dealing with and supporting the staff was not his
strong suit.
Chain of Command
When Art VanSong became terminally ill, CDR Gary Reese was brought up from CSDG-1 to act as Gap filler. Gary was the Chief Staff Officer at CSDG-1. His relief was CAPT Dave Harscheid (dec). They both were great guys.
Other Memories
I never told Dave Harscheid until the night of his retirement party that he had been my XO on the Haddock. He was somewhat pissed that he never made the connection. Working as the COMSUBPAC representative with the SEALS during the implementation of the first Dry Deck Shelter (DDS). It almost took an act of divine intervention to get them to appreciate that CO's of submarines were somewhat adverse to opening their hatches underwater without the proper certification process being completed.
Criteria The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces in the grades of lieutenant commander (or major) and below. It is awarded for meritorious service or achieveme... The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces in the grades of lieutenant commander (or major) and below. It is awarded for meritorious service or achievement in either combat or noncombat based on sustained performance or specific achievement of a superlative nature but which does not warrant a Navy Commendation Medal or higher. It may not be awarded for service involving participation in aerial flight after January 1, 1969. MoreHide
Comments
Basic End-Of-Tour thing that was just coming into vogue.
Best Friends
CWO4 Bert Tharp, MMCS(SS) Corky Palmer, LCDR Ray Swanson (EOD), LCDR Raleigh "RD" Baker, LT Tom Christensen (CEC), LT Gary Houston (SC), LT Rick Barnes, LT Brian Kissel, LT Ron "Rotten Ronny" Renner.
Best Moment
The time LCDR Jerry Collins (N-4) ORDERED the chop, LT Houston (who was single), to bring a date to a social function because all the wives would be in attendance. So Gary brought a local exotic dancer.
Chain of Command
COMSUBDEVGRUONE
Other Memories
Worked with Canadian, Dr. Joe MacInnis who was the medical director for the American Man-in-Sea program. In the 80s he led the teams that made the first scientific dives under the North Pole and discovered the world's northernmost known shipwreck - HMS Breadalbane - under the ice of the Northwest Passage. Was privileged to be VADM(Ret) "Yogi" Kaufman's Horse-Holder while he was doing research work for his book "Sharks of Steel". What a totally super guy from the Old School.. (deceased 2006). Also, in a frantic LDO shuffle (to keep from getting caught out by BUPERS), I got pulled out of the 5-Shop (Spec Ops) and stashed in Det Bravo, and later to the 4-Shop (Material).
Best Friends
LT(jg) Jim Cavin ETCM(SS) Joel Staggs (dec) CWO Al Young LT(jg) Mike (Beatle) Bailey MCPO (Pinky) Pemberton LT Jimmy Jans LT John Dryfka (dec) LCDR Bill Sidner; Sir Willam of
Best Moment
When Joel loaded "his" 18 wheeler with seasoned oak firewood in Annapolis (it was cheap there) and trucked it back to San Diego as clandestine contraband.
Worst Moment
Some that made the press and some that didn't.
Chain of Command
Det Bravo, Special Ops thing, so not much to talk about. We reported to the SUBDEVGRU 5-Shop. Charlie MacVean was the Commodore at the time. A fine gentleman.
Other Memories
Joel wanted to be a long-haul trucker more than anything else in the whole wide world. So he became one. He had him a stompin' 18-wheeler with a custom paint job and a fine sound system courtesy of the tax payers. Ya didn't mess with Joel's rig.
The time Joel Staggs hauled a load of "Top Secret" seasoned oak fire wood from Annapolis to San Diego.
Also, many years ago while he was stationed at Treasure Island, Joel used to drive a shiny new green Corvette, but that's another story,
Criteria The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 r... The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 required four years of service. MoreHide
Comments
Just kept my head down and my behind covered.
Best Friends
STC(SS-DV) Sam David TDC Joe Mraz MMC(SS-DV) Michael Francis (Barney) Bakara LCDR Tony Dunn (OIC)
Best Moment
The bash Commodore Chuck Larson threw (with the mayor of Avalon) which lasted in various fragmented forms until 04:00. When we held the first ever all-male Navy Smoker and Baby Shower for TD3 Amy Skinner. Our wives helped with gift selection. After much celebration it was decided that if it was a boy, Amy should name him Mule. Making of the movie Grey Lady Down staring Chuck Heston (dec). We also got advance technical chop on the script for the TV series "The Man From Atlantis". After considerable red-lining we finally retitled it "The Bionic Frog". Last we heard from those guys. And finally, I was tapped for LDO !
Worst Moment
None comes to mind.
Chain of Command
COMSUBDEVGRUONE, Commordore CAPT Charles Larson. Det. OIC was LCDR Tony Dunn, one of the original Trieste Hydronoughts.
Other Memories
Following CAPT Charles Larson's relief as COMSUBDEVGRUONE, he went on to twice be the Commandant of the Naval Academy and later to get tapped for CINCPAC. The man had definite star quality. He was relieved by CAPT Charlie MacVean whom you may remember if you happened to read the book Blind Man's Bluff.
Best Friends
MMC(SS-DV) Michael Francis (Barney) Bakara ET1(SS) Thomas "Two-Tom" Hellem EMCM(SS-DV)(COB) Bob Grogan STSC(SS-DV) Kay Patton (dec) STSC(SS) Bob Klienfelter (dec) MMC(SS) Corky Palmer ETCS(SS) Jim Fox (2nd COB affter Bob retired) LT Dick Taylor (a party animal who knew how to take care of his troops)) LT Charlie Gragg (a close friend to "Meyers Rum")
And a whole bunch of guys off the One-Boat
Best Moment
Way too many to mention. Absolutely my best tour in the Navy
Worst Moment
Just off San Clamente Island. Open ocean night tow (submerged) by the USNS Apache (ATF 172). The DSRV was NOT hydro-dynamically stable and headed straight for the bottom with Barney and myself hanging on for what we thought would be our final moments. Did I mention that this was my FIRST ride on the DSRV? Fortunately, the length of the tow line was less the the waters' depth so we just had a few hair raising pendulum swings. Kind of like bungee jumping. Definitely an E-ticket ride with a major pucker factor! This is why , to this day, the DSRV is towed on the surface while strapped securely to the TQ recovery frame
Mercury sabotage with me inside the spheres for about 2 hours. Bad stuff, that Hg. . .
Chain of Command
COMSUBDEVGRUONE (DSU hadn't been invented yet) OIC was LT Dick Taylor
Other Memories
LT T.C.J. McGinlay practicing on his bagpipes while marching to and fro in the Lockheed Ocean Lab parking lot. Kind of surreal.
Criteria The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 r... The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 required four years of service. MoreHide
Criteria The Navy Expeditionary Medal is awarded to Navy personnel who have landed on foreign territory and engaged in operations against armed opposition or who have operated under circumstances deemed to mer... The Navy Expeditionary Medal is awarded to Navy personnel who have landed on foreign territory and engaged in operations against armed opposition or who have operated under circumstances deemed to merit special recognition and for which no campaign medal has been awarded. MoreHide
Description
Generic bong that was initially given in recognition for "Special Circumstances" that the Govt. didn't wish to specify.
Best Friends
ET2(SS) Dave Tucker TM2(SS) Russ "2-Speed" Wadsworth FT1(SS) Ron Logan STCS(SS) John Williams ST2S(SS) Sammy Caufield ST2S(SS)
Best Moment
Yokosuka Japan, with all the mental images that place congers up. I still get a hangover just thinking about it!
Worst Moment
NEWS RELEASE. . . Commander Wilderman was washed overboard from the bridge of PLUNGER (SSN-595) on 1 December 1973 outside Golden Gate while the ship was en route to routine post-overhaul sea trials. In spite of an intensive search by air and sea, his body was never recovered. He had cleared the bridge of all other personnel when the ship encountered extremely heavy seas and no one else was lost. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal posthumously. Commander Wilderman previously served in VON STEUBEN (SSBN-632), WOODROW WILSON (SSBN-624), and as Executive Officer of PARGO (SSN-650), before assuming command of PLUNGER.
Other Memories
The Captain during most of my tour was CDR Nels Thunman who went on to be the Golden Dolphin of the Navy. He missed being CNO because the wrong president sat in the chair at that time. (It IS political, you know)
Criteria The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 r... The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 required four years of service. MoreHide
Comments
Not getting caught outside the box has it's merits.
Criteria The Navy Unit Commendation may be awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps that distinguishes itself by outstanding heroism in action against an enemy (but not suff... The Navy Unit Commendation may be awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps that distinguishes itself by outstanding heroism in action against an enemy (but not sufficiently to justify the award of the Presidential Unit Citation). It may also be awarded to a unit that distinguishes itself by extremely meritorious service not involving combat (but in support of military operations), which renders that unit outstanding when compared to other units performing similar service. MoreHide
Criteria The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspa... The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, for any period of service during the same time period in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. MoreHide
Best Moment
At least the unlikable CO was offset by LCDR Dave Harscheid who was the XO. (See my Remembrance Profile of him.)
Worst Moment
CO was CDR Stanley J. Anderson who had an aversion to anyone swearing and didn't condone smut (i.e. Playboy magazines, etc.) on His submarine. He was a million laughs.
Other Memories
My good buddy STS2(SS) Bob Marcus was trained to be a Jesuit Priest, but at the last minute decided not to kiss the ring and joined the Navy instead. He and I used to stand underway sonar watch together. It was great entertainment to watch the "wear-it-on-your-sleeve" self professed Christians, not aware of his education, try to engage in religious arguments. He would peel them like an onion. The COB had to tell him to knock it off after he found MMC(SS) 'Ripper' Collins weeping in the passageway outside the sonar shack. It seems Ripper was starting to have some serious doubts about his faith. Right On, Bobby
Description UNITAS exercises are sponsored by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command with the objective to foster cooperation and increase interoperability among the navies of the Americas. Held continuously since 19UNITAS exercises are sponsored by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command with the objective to foster cooperation and increase interoperability among the navies of the Americas. Held continuously since 1959, UNITAS has become the premier multinational naval exercise in the Southern Command area of operations.
During the two-week exercise, participating units have the opportunity to train as unified force in all aspects of naval operations, from maritime interdiction to anti-submarine and electronic warfare. U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command sponsors UNITAS exercises with the objective to foster cooperation and develop interoperability among the navies of the region.
UNITAS supports U.S. Southern Command objectives for enhanced maritime security in its area of responsibility. It is intended to train participating forces in a variety of maritime scenarios to test command and control of forces at sea, while operating as a multinational force to provide the maximum opportunity to improve interoperability.... More
Memories
Bad stuff off of Vlad and Petro in the Sea of O.
Best Friends
Joe Blackburn Monly Bonly Jones Bob Curry
Best Moment
Married my Wife during Christmas leave period with a skiing honeymoon in Stowe VT
Worst Moment
Dismal Swamp Virgina (if you've been there, you'll know what I mean)
Other Memories
One of my instructors was a CPO named "Boom-Boom" Balistreri. He was closely related to the Banano mob family (e.g. "Joey Bananas") and, not wanting to follow in the family's traditional business, he run away to sea. One of the "Uncles" did, however, pay a social call on him at SINS school, but that's another rather long story.
One of our classmates who followed us from ET school was actually named M.B. Jones (from the south I guess). To avoid the usual administrative confusion, an enterprising yeoman at ET school cut his orders to read: JONES, M(only) B(only). Not too surprising when the receiving yeoman figured the parens where simply a typo. From that time forward, Jones was known as Monly Bonely. True story.
Best Moment
Made "Presto PO" for cutting the top 20% grade-wise. An advancement process not highly regarded by other sailors who were required to have the requisite time-in-grade and also pass "The Test".
Worst Moment
I showed up at T.I. right off the street. No uniforms, no speakee sailor talk, and no boot camp history. Because of a particular extra-curricular activity favored by some of the troops during this period in time, most thought I was way too obviously a "Narc". Took a while to shake the stigma.
Chain of Command
Me, class leader reporting to everyone else on the Island.
Other Memories
Bob Curry was an accomplished jazz stand-up base player who came to the Navy from the University of Texas Experimental Jazz Band. We would crawl the after hours jazz joints in San Francisco where he would sit in with the local talent. We would usually be rewarded with a few free drinks.
Had another cruising mate who played a really good stride piano. We would hit the pizza joints in Berkley; he would play, and we got free pizza. Sweet
Other Memories
I was actually an SP-4 (E-4) at the time,with a MOS (Military Occupation Specialty) of 911.17 but this web site does not allow for other service rank/MOS structure.
Best Friends
SP4 Mike Mitchell of the 15th Cav SP4 Dave Cooper
Best Moment
Skiing in the Alps at Obersalzburg.
Worst Moment
The notorious Khrushchev shoe-banging incident which occurred during a UN debate on October 11 1960. Infuriated by a statement of the Filipino delegate, Khrushchev accused Mr. Sumulong of being "a jerk, a stooge and a lackey of imperialism". Later Mr. Khrushchev pulled off his right shoe, brandished it at the Philippine delegate on the other side of the hall and banged the shoe on his desk.
We went on full alert and moved to the border expecting the worst.
Chain of Command
7th Army, 4th Armored Division, 46th Med Bn, Company A
Other Memories
4th AD NCO Academy, Neu-Ulm Germany 24th Inf Div Medical Leaders Academy, Augsburg Germany 4th AD Division Trains Rifle team. Couldn't hit my ass with both hands and a scoop shovel, but they needed shooters from the non-combat arms units.
I was actually a SP-4 (E-4) at the time,with an MOS of 911.17 but this web site does not allow for other service rank/MOS structure.
Criteria The Army Good Conduct Medal is awarded on a selective basis to enlisted members of the Army who distinguish themselves by exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity during a specified period of conti... The Army Good Conduct Medal is awarded on a selective basis to enlisted members of the Army who distinguish themselves by exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity during a specified period of continuous enlisted active service (normally three years in peacetime). MoreHide
Criteria The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service... The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service during the current War on Terrorism. In addition, all members of the National Guard and Reserve who were part of the Selected Reserve in good standing between August 2, 1990, to November 30, 1995, are eligible for the National Defense Service Medal. In the case of Navy personnel, Midshipment attending the Naval Academy during the qualifying periods are eligible for this award, and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Midshipmen ae only eligible if they participated in a summer cruise that was in an area which qualified for a campaign medal. MoreHide
LCDR Todd Benedict
LT Rick Barnes
LT Ron Renner (Now there's trouble)
LT Brian Kessel
MMCM(SS) Corky Palmer
Getting to be a sideline player in the HMS TITANIC venture in conjunction with Dr."Admiral" Ballard of Woods Hole fame.
Retired Oct 1987
The Space Shuttle Challenger explosion.
Cleanup of mercury spill from DSV Sea Cliff on M/V Energy Service 1. What an ecological mess!
M/V ES-1 ran over DSV Sea Cliff and almost sunk her. She fortunately stayed on the surface with only about 10 pounds of positive buoyancy. I had done a hard sell job on one of my Det Bravo troops to accept orders to Sea Cliff and stay in the Navy. He was on board for his FIRST dive when this happened and consequently didn't think too much of my advice.
Come to think of it, this didn't seem to be one of Sea Cliff's better years.
COMSUBDEVGRUONE (DSU hadn't been invented yet)
OIC: LCDR Todd Benedict
AIOC: Me
Turtle was an independent command. We were getting the boat rebuilt at Lockheed Ocean Labs (LOL) after a battery fire put her in a box for about a year.
Because of this lay-up I also served as the CSDG-1 Deep Submergence Staff Officer (N-2).