 |
WAR STORIES FROM PARADISE
You have traveled back to 1972! Entries
are
posted by the year the writer arrived, so be sure
to check either side of the year you're looking for to
find your old buddies, shipmates, and
sweethearts! I'll update this page as I
receive your warstory! No anoymous reports
- only if you're
willing to put yourself up to the ridicule of
the world will you be entered into this
Guestbook! Also, please note that the
email addresses listed are those at the me the
entry was received - some of them from
1997! Sorry if they don't work now...
Send in YOUR Story NOW using the convenient fill-in-the-blanks form! |
Be Sure to See "Vidge" Villanueva's WEB SITE
all about 1972-1973!
Go see Roger Hickey's photo album from 1972 on FLICKR! |
|
|
From Richard Cole Citizenship = USA Service = USN Outfit = Navcomsta
Public Works My_Warstory = Bob
Hope Christmas Show 1972 Diego Garcia During World War
11, Bob Hope began visiting and entertaining military
service members.
Virtually every year from the first Bob Hope
shows until 1971. There was no plan for a tour during
Christmas 1972 Each
year in January the Bob Hope Christmas Show appeared
on TV. In
November rumors started that Bob Hope was
reconsidering another Christmas show. Mid-month the
word came that there would be a show and Diego Garcia
would host it on Christmas Day. Now the Recreation
Director had written Bob Hope and asked him to come
but he did not tell the Seabee Commander. When the
invitation was accepted by Bob there were requirements
that come with the show.
First the airfield was 4000 long with a gravel
surface. In
order to land the c-161 used by the Tour Group the
permanent concrete runway which was under construction
needed to be finished so the C-161 could land. So the
Seabee Battalion Commander was not happy. He would
have to rearrange his construction priorities to be
sure the concrete runway would be complete and he
would also have to prepare facilities for the show
including building a stage and bleaches from which to
watch the show.
The Seabee crews were already working six ten
hour days but it would take additional time to prepare
for the show. All of us who were
going to attend the show were excited. We didn’t
know who was going join Bob Hope but we knew it would
be funny and involve beautiful women and a variety of
entertainment stars. A week or two
before Christmas I was invited to attend a reception
with the participants in the show. Wow! I didn’t
know if I was to be nervous or excited or just tongue
tied. I
hadn’t seen a woman in three months and many of the
Seabee crew hadn’t seen a woman in eight months. It was going
to be interesting to see how everyone reacted
including me. The big day
arrives and all is ready. The new
concrete runway was completed just two days before the
Christmas. On
Christmas Day the plane with the show participants
lands, it is the first plane to land on the new 6000
foot runway and the show participants head to town. The first
vehicle is an open air jeep carrying Bob Hope. He stops the
main entrance and points to the millage sign. I believe it
said New York to the left 13000 miles and Los Angeles
to the right 14000 miles There were a few other
destinations shown but I don’t remember what they
were. Bob
laughs and tells the film crew who is following to be
sure and get a shot of the sign. There is about 6
or7 hours before the show. Bob goes to
take a nap in the Island Commanders hut and the rest
of the group disperses in downtown Diego Garcia and in
some of the facilities to wait for the show. What happens
before the show?
My hut mates who are all junior officers have
laid out strategies for the day. Bob S, who
has the space next to me is well prepared. He finds out
where most of the young women are spending their free
time. Now
Bob S. is a good guy who has the greatest confidence
when it comes approaching women he has never met. A while
later I see him walking on our beach with a lovely
lady. It
turns out she is Miss Kansas who won the swimsuit
competition at the Miss USA contest. He spends
all the free time with her. It turns out
he has built a relationship in those few hours. He and Miss
Kansa exchange addresses and he and she correspond
while he is on the island. Now the rest of us
are unsure what to do.
I look out to our beach and there is Redd Foxx
wandering down the beach looking for seashells. The only
thing I can think is that this is a long way from
Sanford and Son’s junkyard. Eventually I make
my way to the reception for everyone from the show and
some of us. I
joined up with one of my hut mates who also was
invited to the reception. Beyond
awkward is my first feeling. How do you
approach the show participants? I look for
the least obtrusive way to mingle. One of
the easiest people to approach is Delores Hope, Bob’s
wife. A
group of us gather around her. She is warm
and friendly and makes us feel like she can serve as a
mother surrogate for the day. She will
prove that later during the show. There are other
stars there including Lola Falana and of course there
were many recent beauty contestants participants
include Miss World, Miss World Runner-Up who was also
Miss Europe. A
group of girls from the USA who states they represent
I don’t remember.
My hut mate and I finally get up enough courage
to ask Miss World Runner-Up if she would take a
picture with each of us.
She politely agrees. She is still
the most beautiful woman I have ever met. I think her
name was Ingrid and she was from either Sweden or
Norway. After
I returned to the US I saw her in a couple of
commercials. After the
reception it is time for the show. The Seabees
have created seating out of leftover construction
material and various construction equipment has been
stationed in strategic locations so some of the
Seabees can get a birds-eye view of the show. The
stage is set within palm trees with a back drop of the
lagoon. It
is very surreal. The show is
similar to all the Bob Hope Christmas specials I have
seen on television in the past. Being there
makes me realize that we are a part of history that
dates back to World War II. It is a
proud and happy feeling.
Although the show is similar to those I saw on
television in the past, it is unique. Somehow Bob
has learned a great deal about our life on Diego
Garcia and he has jokes that makes us feel like he
knows our plight and struggles. He knows
about the donkeys and mosquitos who are residents of
the island and he brings humor these elements of the
island. He
also adlibs thought the show creating a steady stream
of laughs. The
actors. actresses and beauty contestants appear
through the show with Bob, Redd Foxx and Lola Falana
playing major roles.
As the show nears
completion Delores Hope appears on stage. Unknow to me
and many others she is an excellent singer. She begins
with traditional Christmas songs. She closes
the program with “I’ll be home for Christmas” There
wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd. The show is over
and I experience and I suspect many other feel a wide
variety of emotions.
We are happy with what we have seen, sad to see
them go. We
feet a loss at the realization that this big event has
passed and we need to go back to work tomorrow and we
are still over 10000 miles from the USA with little
connection to our families. Later we hear the
Bob Hope was upset with his wife for singing a song
that made us cry.
He is of the opinion that he is there to bring
laughs and joy. Again
we hear that he sent her home rather than include in
other shows in the Viet Nam and other military
locations in Asia and the Pacific area. I believe
Bob was wrong, I believe more than any other element
of the show we will remember that song by Delores
Hope. In late January 1973 the Bob Hope Christmas Show video was sent to Diego Garcia. The show was shown back in USA at about the same time. I remember that each year the Bob Hope Christmas Show was a major television event. I believe I saw all of them. The show included many other sites where the show was put on but is was great to relive that moment on our island. This was easily the most memorable moment from my year on the island as it probably was for the others who attended.
Elzie (smokin
t-token joe) Culpepper = efculpepperjoe@yahoo.com
My_Warstory = When
we got there we were all fat and white. The first day
we just tried to adjust and breath. I lost 45 pounds.
We all left thin and brown. It seams we all knew how
to have a good time. I remember the old back room bars
in the grass huts. Uniform of the day, hard hat ,
shorts, and boots. I did a little boxing while there.
I'll never forget knocking out Pat Grant in round 2.
He came with a haymaker. I saw it coming and ducked .
I came from a swat with right uppercut. I saw the
souls of both feet before he hit the deck. Pat later
told me the only part of the fight he remembeerd was
putting on his trunks. Pat really was a great guy. I
remember the Acey Ducey as I was a bouncer there. They
got in a load of Boons farm wine one nite . I guess
everyone went boo boo on tha stuff. One guy got his
arm broke, and we had to straight jacket another. Had
to take a blade away from another.It was hell of a
nite at sea. I got circumcised while there. I was
given morphine and got to watch. Doc was messing with
my head ,when he got the skin off he hollers and hole
it up. Gave a real thrill. Spent a few day waist deep
in the ocean. I remember Chilly Willy , and the Greese
ball , Killer, Terry Moute, Pappy .
8 November 2017
Up until
November1972 Gene Ray =
Seab114.gr@gmail.com
Citizenship
= USA; Service = USN; Outfit = NMCB10..Det.Chagos My_Warstory
= Diego Garcia ...so glad to find this site..I was the
person that transported all the poles to site for the
Transmitting and Receving sites. We were also the crew
that erected all of the antenna at both sites as well
as nub ride all the "Deadmen" concrete anchors that
held all the guy wires down on the antenna.. It was my
job to load and deliver all poles from one end of the
island to the sites.. I have so man good memories of
this Deployment :) Also I would like to say that what
happened on the Rock Stayed on the Rock :) I remember
a lot of these photos that were taken as well asalot
of these stories that are told on here. Some good some
tuff!!! I even remember trapping a large tiger shark
in the loogon and toying with him until the CO made us
open up the dredge site and let him back out... He
must have been around 12ft long Nasty Boy he was :) I
remember watching many a movie in the pouring Rain
there !!! Thanks for a walk down memory
lane:) 1972 thru
1973 Michael
McGuire = counselorforyouths@gmail.com Citizenship
= USA; Service = USN; Outfit = MCB 62 My_Quest =
find old buddies and pictures VT_of_a_Swallow
= you got me My_Warstory
= Like others, I stumbled across this site, looking
for some buddies. I was with the Master at AT Arms,
and hooched with the medics near the ocean side.
The Master AT Arms hooch was near the lagoon, up next
to the opening. I can't remember my Chief's name but,
he was a great guy and Chief looked out for me !He
stood up for me at an XO mast when we got back to
Gulfport Miss I was a young 18 yr. old and the Rock
was an adventure!
I read somewhere in here the piss tests set world
records for positive returns....hey, I was the guy who
over saw the collection near the MARS station where we
divvied out the linen ...anyone remember that...
I was there when Bob Hope and Red Fox came with all
the Miss World's and was on TV. It was raining and me
and a couple buddies were under a poncho.....one of
the Miss beauties slipped on the plywood
floor...lol.wow, this site brought back some great
memories. A Question
from STEVE L CRESWELL = SCTRADINGLLC@GMAIL.COM (DG in
1974) Citizenship
= USA Service =
USN Outfit =
MCB10 VT_of_a_Swallow
= 2XPRS(>5x8}+16 My_Warstory
= RECENTLY ASKED VFW IF 1974 TOUR OF DG QUALIFIED US
TO JOIN THEY SAID NO I DONT WANT TO
WATER DOWN THE BRAVERY OF OUR GUYS WHO SEEN REAL
COMBAT BUT I FEEL OUR PRESENCE THERE DID A GREAT PART
IN BACKING CHINA AND RUSSIA DOWN IN 1975 FROM
COTINUEING TO SUPPORT NORTH VC. MANY GUYS WITH ME
THERE CAN TELL YOU ; IF IT WAS NOT A CONFLICT WITH
RUSSIA WHY DID THEY SPY ON US SO MUCH; WHATS THE
DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE WHO FLYS OVER WAR ZONE AND THE
ONE WHO BUILT THE AIR STRIP FOR HIM TO TAKE OFF BOTH
NEVER SET FOOT IN COUNTRY ONE VFW ONE NOT ? SEABEES
FROM 1975&BACK KNOW (CAN DO ) &WE DID ON
DIEGO ! COMMENTS
PLEASE. STEVE MCB10 1974 DIEGO EMAIL
SCTRADINGLLC@GMAIL.COM OR POST ON
THIS SITE QUESTION IF YOU NEVER PUT
ONE FOOT IN COUNTRY &SERVIED ONLY ONE TOUR DIEGO
1975 BACK DO YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE A VFW. 1972,1981/1982,
1987 to 1995 Dave
Fisher, Capt, USMM (Ret.), CAPT (SWO) USN (Ret.) =
callsign.BULL@tni.net Citizenship
= USA; Service = Merchant Marine; Other_Service =
USNR; Outfit = USS R. E. Kraus; USNS Sealift
Antarctic; SS Green Valley, G. Island, G Harbour; MV
Jeb Stuart My_Quest =
Here in 2014, would like to go back for one last,
short look-see. My_Warstory
= First went in '72 in USS Richard E. Kraus (DD-849)
to deliver crypto gear. It looked like "McHale's Navy"
then. Returned in '81/'82 in USNS Sealift Antarctic
(T-AO-176) with the MSC Near Term Prepositioned Force.
Didn't look too much different. Returned again in '87
to the four Afloat Prepositioned Force LASH ammo ships
- a couple of years as Chief Mate, the remainder as
Master. Dodge now a little more civilized. While there
in 1994, sortied the entire APF as Convoy Commodore
and CTG-159.1 for Operation Vigilant Warrior up in the
Gulf. Technically still a civilian, but assigned under
Allied doctrine. Left in
late '95 to command the COMPSRON ONE flagship in the
Med. At the time I left (9 yrs on), I was "The
Mayor of DGAR," as the longest serving occupant. Like to go
back one last time before I pass, just to see how "my"
island is doing. Have lumpia and a beer at the
"O." 1971-1974 Name =
Paul Moore = pwmcx95@gmail.com Citizenship
= USA; Service = USN; Outfit = Machinery Repairman My_Warstory
= This was my first duty out of boot camp. Home port
then was in Davisville, Rhode Island. Don't remember
which battalion I was with (Think maybe MCB-74). Got to
island and didn't have any idea what to expect. First
time away from home. Stayed 7
months went back to Davisville, RI. Got orders
to go to Gulfport, MS. Got there and none of the
battalion I was sent to were there. I asked were
everyone was at. They said Portirico. I asked where is
next duty. I was told Diego Garcia. Nine
months later I went back to Diego Garcia for 8 months. I'm the
only person I know of that had two tours on Diego
Garcia. Most of
the time I was there I was the one machinist there. 2nd time
there received an award for repairing hydraulic pumps
at cement plant while there on first tour. Nov
1972-Nov 1973 Name = David Holloway = dholloway175@comcast.net Citizenship
= USA Service = USN Outfit =
NAVCOMSTA Plank
Owner\My_Warstory = I arrive Nov 1972, after a 9 hour
C130 flight. Some of my friends were ET3 RICKY WOODSON
(Woody), ET3 JOHN KING, ET3 JIM HECKER (we lived in
H6), ET2 JIM MILES. I also ran the miniature golf
course. I was like Lucy's 5 cent psychiatrist shop
from Charlie Brown. It was very tough in those days
(mail once a week, no telephones, no VCRs/DVD&
etc.) so men would come by and share their burdens
with me and I would give out advise like Dr Phil. For
entertainment, JIM HECKER and I would get behind our
hootch and throw rocks onto the roof of the hootch's
far away from ours. They would come out of their
hootch like from a hive. They never figured out where
the rocks were coming from. The
highlight of my tour was the BOB HOPE show especially
when Deloris HOPE sang "I'll Be Home for Christmas". I
only knew one person who liked the Brit Rep (we called
Sir John). I hated that place. I had night mares for
years. I would have starved to death if they hadn't
opened "Diego Burger". I do feel
very badly for the locals they forced to move away. It
would have been nice for them to have stayed there.
There was lots of work they could have done. One person
who was stationed with us was RM1 JERRY WHITWORTH. He
was one of John Walkers spies and I'm sure he will
spend the remainder of his life in prison for selling
secrets to Russia. January
1972 To August 1972 John J
Daprino = jjd33461@aol.com Citizenship
= USA; Service = USN; Outfit = NAV CHAP CARGO &
MIC BOAT COXSWAIN NMCB10 My_Quest =
To Go Back And See How Far The Island Has Come My_Warstory
= Arrived Jan. 1972 by C130 with SEABEE Battallion 10.
Was in charge of LCM'S and the off loading supplies
from the various cargo ships. Also was in charge of
the Boston Whaler they used for recovery in case of a
Plane Crash in the Lagoon. Remember the great Fish
Fries we used to have on the beach in between cargo
ship arrivals. Used to drive the huge fork lifts on
the beach also the jeeps. If anybody remembers the
Victory AT SEA ADVENTURE PLEASE GET BACK TO ME.Also
that my engineman and me had to replace both screws on
the LCM. Anybody that was there remembers what
happened with that fiasco.Also when my boat crew had
to escort the only two women under armed guard to the
other side of the island for sightseeing. 1972 Roger
Hickey = hickey_roger@cat.com Sent in a
bunch of photos that can be seen on the Chapel in the
Palms page and the AFRTS page. He was there with
NMCB-10. Below is one of his photos of the
T-Site antennas when they were first erected down near
Turtle Cove.
 
Roger added: Did you
know that the NMCB-10 Detachment Chagos flew from Rota
Spain to Bangkok and on that flight we were hijacked
by the Iranian government? We were forced down
at Terahan by (American made) F-4's. We had to
sit on the tarmack for over 24 hours and could not get
out nor would they connect the A/C or deliver
food/water. The had the plane surrounded by
soldiers and light amored vehicles. They even
came on board and searched the plane for cameras and
took them. You do not want to be on a charter
plane full of stinky grouchy Seabees that long!
Finally someone paid someone else and they
allowed us to depart. A few hours later we
landed in Bombay for food, water, and fuel. The
8.5 hour flight on a C-130 from Bangkok was fun also,
jump seats were not designed for comfort. Below
are some more photos from Roger:    Roger sent in 138 photos -
all of them excellent - of his tour there in
1972. Here's where you can see them all: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30832662@N05/sets/72157631312137842/ Bob
Humphreys =
href="mailto:bhumphreys@maine.rr.com">bhumphreys@maine.rr.com Citizenship
= USA; Service = USN; Outfit = ATCU 4 My_Quest
= Sail Back on my own boat VT_of_a_Swallow
= Depends on how tightly you wad-it-up My_Warstory
= Diego Garcia: Tropical Paradise, towering 60' palm
trees shading SEA Huts (what is the terminal velocity
of a coconut falling 50' onto a tin roof?), tropical
temperatures (85-90 deg, 24 hours a day, 85-90%
humidity except when it rained, then 100%), swimming
in a lagoon with water so clear you could see the
bottom 100' down (pee warm), sailing sunfish on your
day-off (except when the harbor master closed the
harbor to sailing because of "small craft warnings" -
winds in excess of 15KTS - every single day!!) in the
lagoon. Feeding steak to the moray eel on the end of a
trident, unless you tried sticking your swim fin in
it's mouth (how long can you REALLY hold your
breath?), near beer, an endless supply of Rum in the
club, but no coke, only root-beer to mix (couldn't
drink Root Beer for 2 years after I left). Driving to
the mess-hall and bringing back ration buckets for the
guys on watch, then watching the chickens drown in the
mashed potatoes (fun!). Writing a telegram to my
congress person (Margret Chase Smith) to keep them
from killing our dog Mickey - didn't work. Going to
the 2-holer and crapping in 55 gal drums cut in half
and filled half way with diesel fuel (DO NOT SMOKE IN
THE CRAPPER!) then burning the waste daily. Baked
beans and boxed pizza mix from home! Nightly
"shopping" trips. Working in air-conditioned bliss
while 2 crews work 12on12off cutting grooves in the
runway so Bob Hope could land in his C141. Langusta in
the chow-hall - I come from Maine, lobster and
langusta are NOT the same thing. The honor of having a
Bob Hope Christmas show. We split the watch so
everyone from ATCU could see at least part of it. 3
weeks R&R in Bangkok (my brother lived there
- brought my wife over - never made it to Thai Haven -
damn!). Spending half your nights-off working the MARS
station (That was time well spent!). Diego Garcia is
not the end of the world, but I think you can see it
from there. Since
Bob is the first person to write and say they he had a
dog on DG, I wrote back: "I do have a question
about your dog, Mickey. The killing of all the
dogs on DG continues to be one of the great mysteries
about the island. If you haven't heard of the
various lawsuits against the U.K. and U.S. by the
former inhabitants, well, consider yourself
lucky! It is long and complicated (going on 13
years in courts of various kinds). Anyway, one
of the claims by the former workers out there is that
US "soldiers" herded all the islanders' pet dogs into
the copra sheds over at the East Point Plantations and
gassed them and then told the workers if they didn't
get on the evacuation ship, they would be killed that
way too. I know the SEABEES were tough, but that
sounds too heartless to be true!!! The
historical record says that the Governor of the BIOT
(he was also the governor of the Seychelles at the
time) ordered the 900+ stray dogs on the island
rounded up and put down, and that since there were no
Brits there to do it, the Plantation manager tried to
but couldn't, so he got the SEABEES to do it.
Basically they gassed them with truck exhaust in the
copra drying sheds, and shot those that couldn't be
rounded up. However, no one can give a date for
the event, or an eyewitness or even secondary
account. It was probably in 1971, before your
time, but possibly you heard about it? I'm
thinking that your dog Mickey was a survivor of the
purge, and wonder if you've got any info about the
events at all? To
which he responded: "I spent 10 years in the USN
and have exercised selective memories, so tend to
remember the good stuff, or at least good portions of
some of the bad stuff.
I never heard the dog stories you mention.
When I got to DG, our ATCU site had a grass hut, 2
hootches, 4 or 5 trailers containing our
communications equipment, 3 generators, a donkey, a
dog, and a whole mess of chickens.
The incoming watch (us) had to stay in the grass hut
until the outgoing watch was effectively relieved,
packed and on a plane. I think we spent a week in the
hut. There were geckos living in the thatch roof that
could catch and carry the DG equivalent of a dragonfly
which must have weighed 4 ounces – they were huge!
Occasionally one of the gecko’s would lose their grip
while holding one of these B52’s and drop onto a
sleeping Radioman. The resulting scream from the
sleeping RM could be heard throughout the entire
compound.
The donkey would eat grass and drink beer – I think it
had a name but I can’t remember it – and finally died,
apparently as a result of the consumed beer killing
the bacteria in its gut and it starved to death. We
drove to the transmitter site several times to try to
rope a wild donkey and tame it. Visions of “Hatari”
come to mind as I remember 4 of us in a jeep with one
having a rope lasso tossed around the neck of an
unwilling donkey and the other 3 convulsed in laughter
as the 4th gets dragged for however far it
takes before he lets go. We never tamed a donkey!
Our dog Mickey was about the size of a beagle, brown
and black, would play with us, took trips (don’t think
he ever rode in a vehicle) to the ocean-side and
caught crabs and other beach critters frequently. He
once caught a sea snake – theorized to be one of the
most poisonous in the world – scared us so much no one
wanted to take it from his mouth. I never heard any
stories about slaughter of dogs and remember asking
the Britrep about the island culture before our
arrival. Whatever his answers were, they weren’t very
informative. Seems as though the US had leased DG for
$1.00 for 50 years, the indigenous population was
“moved”, the British ostensibly collected $50.00 for
every coconut tree destroyed (seems like a lot!) which
was to go to a fund to settle the indigenes in their
new location. When we were ordered to present Mickey
to sick-bay for euthenization, we balked and hid him
while several of us sent telegrams to our Congress
people. We had to pay for the telegrams, so they
weren’t very wordy, but we all got answers – I believe
by postal mail – that the decision was MADE, dogs
after-all are a significant vector for rabies (good
grief, how many cases of rabies could there be on an
isolated island in the Indian Ocean?) and posed an
unacceptable risk to someone. We all though it was the
Britrep being an a-hole which started a brief
practical joke harassment campaign against the CB
leadership and the Britrep (bolting and gluing the
Island Commanders jeep to another jeep using some
“special” double sided tape developed by Boeing to
repair aircraft), putting a very irritated chicken in
the Britrep’s office on a Friday night (bright guy
that he was, he immediately figured out that we had
the only chickens, thus must be responsible),
“borrowing” supplies from the ICs office (the Navy
should use better locks). We were advised to “tone it
down” before some/all of us ended up going to jail. In
any case, Diego Garcia was saved from a spontaneous
outbreak of rabies and Mickey was put to sleep.
"The Britrep also expressed displeasure with our
wanton killing of chickens. We had as many as 50
chickens, two or 3 of which were roosters who would
sound-off while standing under our hootches. We worked
24 hrs/day, so the off-watch was sleeping and these
roosters would wake us frequently. The roosters were
pretty savvy and were more difficult to kill than one
would imagine. We did manage to herd “Big Red” into
the crapper one night, with the door closed he
couldn’t escape so we figured maybe he’d slip and fall
into the diesel and get burned the next morning.
Unfortunately one of our guys who had overindulged in
adult beverages needed to use the crapper and ended up
getting his face raked pretty badly as that rooster
made a break for freedom. Don’t think we ever
killed that damned rooster." Regards: Bob
Humphreys 1972 John
Delso <johndelso@att.net> This
is AFRTS Diego Garcia in 1972. I was with MCB-62
and that is me John Delso (JD the DG). My show
was from 12 noon to 6 in the evening. Then is
was shortened to 12 to 3. The Station was in the
back room of the Special Services Building. On
the other side of the back wall was the barber
shop. The wood case on the right side is 200
cassettes I brought with. The were used a
lot. The silver radio on the left was our
audiomonitor. It was sure a fun gig.
June
to November 1972` Richard
Patapack = rikpak@sbcglobal.com Citizenship
= USA Service
= USN Outfit
= NMCB 10 detatchment My_Warstory
= What happened to the Princess Marianne ghost story?
If you smelled her perfume she was nearby. The
wild donkys were very entertaining at times. The
main sport was killing rats, (I had qite a collection
of rat heads, I
wanted to mount them on little boards but never did). When
it was time for my R&R Bangkok had been classified
as a war zone so I had to spend it on the island. Whatever
happened to the WWi shore guns? The
most exciting thing that happened to me was one
evening while living in a tent at the southern tip of
the island, the
field shower blew up while I was using it. At
one time the desalination plant broke down so fresh
water was rationed but there was always plenty of beer
and pot. A
tall sailing ship appeared one day that was apparently
a floating international bordello. The powers that be
declined their services. The
only woman I saw during my time there was in a band
with the USO. They put her under armed guard. My
group left just before Bob Hope visited. 1972-1973 Richard
Gietyen <gietz56@yahoo.com> i
I was just flipping through the computer and decided
to look up the Diego Garcia websit, interesting. My
Name is Richard Gietzen and I happen to be one of the
first members of the Public Works Department that
commissioned the Island in 1973. I arrived late
1972 and seeing that the Department didn't exist them
they put me with N.M.C.B. 40.. At the time I had
just graduated from Construction Electrician A school
in Port Hueneme Ca. And had been assigned to one
year of PWD in Diego Garcia. I stood the first
"generator watch at the transmittion station"
and saw the Bob Hope Chrismas show that was
fun. Well the island sure has changed.
Later in 1979 I got assigned to N.M.C.B. 40, by
then I had the rank of CE2 and was assigned
to a detachment that was working on fuel farm, I was
the Electrician that keep the welders working while
they where finishing the work on the fuel pumping
station and later on the 6 inch fuel line at the
runway well that was interesting work. Is there
other websites of Diego vet out there if so please
give me the information. Thank you 1972 LAWRENCE
F. DURAN <lkbong@hotmail.com> If
you were there on Diego Garcia around 72ish around the
time the Bob Hope Xmas Show
happened, and you went to the
enlisted men's club on Friday nights, we had a rock
cover band. My name is Larry Duran and I played
rhythm guitar in that band. I remember Donnie
Fromel sang lead and Carl Mobely (sorry if I
spelled it wrong) played drums. I can't remember
bass player. Richard ??? played
lead. man, it was years ago. Another guy
played flute for awhile, we had another singer
for awhile. It was a gas. We weren't all
that good but by the end of
the night and many beers later, everyone
(including us) thought we sounded great. what a
distraction. Anyone other than myself remember
this? I was in NMCB62 would
love to hear from any of you guys.
Be Sure to See Larry's page about the band: http://www.zianet.com/tedmorris/dg/seabeeband.html.
Arrived
Nov. 1972, Departed Nov. 1973 NAME
= Tim (Andy) Anderson MY
QUEST = To go back for a visit VT
of a SWALLOW = 740 MPH, when the air can no longer get
out of the way. E-MAIL
= No E-mail at home yet. NATIONALITY
= American SERVICE
= Navy Seabees UNIT
= Public Works NAVCOMSTA RANK/RATE/JOB
= UTCA on the Rock Discharged 1976 as BU3. MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Want to Return When the First REAL
Club Med Opens SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell MY
WARSTORY = Great site. Thank-you Ted!!! For years I've
been trying to find out anything about Diego Garcia,
and to find this site was like finding a gold mine. I
read every letter from Troglodites to the present
(spring of 2009). Next I read every letter that I sent
home from the rock, (my mom kept every one) and went
thru all my pictures, about 3 big albums. With that
done, I'm ready to start my war story as accurately as
I can. I
always wanted to be a Seabee. After high school I
worked construction for two years as a carpenter and
even worked with a former Seabee. In April of
1972 I enlisted and was guaranteed a school, but
that was all. Luck was with me and I ended up with
orders to UT-A school at Port Hueneme. I told my
instructor that I wanted to be a Builder and he said
if I didn't want to be a UT that I would spend the
next four years on a ship. I said I could be a UT.
Didn't like UT school much and finished next to the
bottom of my class. That's where Diego Garcia comes
in. Orders were given out according to class standing.
There were 3 sets to the Rock with NavComSta Public
Works. A one-year tour. I knew where I was going! Not
too many people knew much about Diego Garcia at that
time except that it was worse than a prison sentence.
I talked 2 of my good friends into going with
me, Butch Price(Sturgis, South Dakota) and Steve
Hogland (Jasper, Texas). After
leave, Steve and I met up at Travis Air base and we
were on our way. Our orders said we had to travel in
our dress uniform and in November that's dress blues
(the cracker jacks made of wool). After stopping
in a few different places including Ton Son Nhut air
base near Saigon, South Vietnam we ended up in Bancok
for one night. The next day was a bus ride to Utapou
for a C-130 flight to our new home, 8 hours if I
remember right. The dress blues felt pretty good on
the flight, as it was kind of cold. We
made a pass over the runway to scare off the donkeys
and landed. A guy came in and sprayed something all
over everything and everybody. Then the big back door
came open. Heat like I'd never felt before. Before we
could even think about what was going on, we were
taken to the galley for evening chow (still in dress
blues). When Steve and I walked in everybody
looked at us like we were from Mars. Oh was it hot. Most
of the 1000 guys on the island were from MCB 62 and a
Detachment from MCB 133. We were among the first
Seabees there with a one-year sentence. Battalions
were only there for 8 months. When the guys started
finding out about our one-year hitch they either
laughed at us or cried for us. They said trees don't
live that long and rocks didn't get that old.</br
We had orders for NAVCOMSTA Public Works Department,
but it didn’t exist yet. The three of us were taken to
the Commander of MCB 62 to be given temporary places
to work. I ended up in Delta Co. shop working for Mark
Burke. A great guy and a great place to work. We spent
a lot of time making concrete forms for the water tank
at the Public Works “I” site that was under
construction. “I” site would be my future work area
when it was done and when the rest of NAVCOMSTA Public
Works people got there. I stayed in the shop until MCB
62 left, then worked for a little while for MCB 74,
then went to the Public Works Dept. While there I
worked in the carpenter shop and the paint shop. Bobby
Small was my boss and my good friend.
We all lived in the SEA huts with the coconut rats and
bugs. The new barracks were under construction and we
were promised the first rooms when they were done.
But, you know how the Navy works. The new guys coming
in got the first rooms and us old timers spent the
whole year in a hooch.
I knew Steve Benson, MCB 133, killed in the crane
accident in 1973. He was from Bloomington, MN. He
carried a small Bible in his shirt pocket, called it
his truck'n manual. A very sad time.
We had to do some night work at “T” site for a while.
Those guys cooked there own food right there, that’s
where I saw my first microwave. I couldn’t believe a
steak could cook in just minutes. We were hoping they
would invent the opposite device for beer. Seeing Bob
Hope was great. Delta Co shop helped build part of the
stage for the show.
Five guys died while I was there. We always knew when
somebody died, because they rationed ice. They had to
keep the body cold until the next plane came in.
We did the usual thing for entertainment, drank beer,
watched outdoor movies, went shelling, and drank beer.
That year seemed like a real bitch, but looking back,
it was one of the best times of my four-year
enlistment. The day I left, the temperature on the
runway was 100 plus. Three days later I landed in
Fargo, North Dakota, the temp there was 30 below. That
was a shock. After the Rock, I received orders
for Whidbey Island, Washington for the remainder of my
enlistment. After about a year I requested and
received orders for MNCB 4 and went to Guam. We were
there when South Vietnam fell to North Vietnam. We set
up a tent city for the refugees on a Japanese runway
from WWII. After we had enough tents set up, us
Builders started building outhouses. Each 12 hour
shift had to complete 50 a day. We did that for a
month or so. Today
I’m back in the Utilities business at Itasca State
Park in Minnesota. My wife Candi and I recently became
grandparents, Jackstin Navada Anderson, what a treat!
I’ll retire in about 10 years. If there is ever a way
to visit Diego Garcia, I would do it in a heart beat.
Again, a special thanks to Ted, THANK-YOU. Andy [editors
note: Thanks Andy, for the stories and the kind
words about the website. I sure wish there was a
way to find out the names and backgrounds of the guys
who died out there. Being a SEABEE was
hazardous, even without VC or Iwakis shooting at you!] Arrived
in June 1972 and left in March 1973 NAME
= RMC Robert G. Champeau, USN/Ret MY
QUEST = Trying to get some photos that some of my
shipmates may have & I lost VT
of a SWALLOW = Haven't any idea E-MAIL
= rchampeau@bellsouth.net NATIONALITY
= Proud American SERVICE
= United States Navy UNIT
= Chief in Charge ATCU-4 RANK/RATE/JOB
= RMC USN/Ret MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = My Time There is Lost in an
Alcoholic Haze, Help Me Remember! SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = Other MY
WARSTORY = I am woundering if there is anyone out
there a that was drinking with me bringing in the New
Year December 31st, 1972 and Lt. Knowle was still AWOL
in Bankok. (I'll never tell he was on a one week
R&R). One of my men taped the whole
coversation, my chicken chasing & catching RM2,
whose name I don't remember. I wonder if he
rembembers the time I asked him to catch a wild
chicken for me. I was giving the BritRep a ride
to the airstrip the following day for a trip. He
had complained to the Island Commander that my troops
were harrasing his subjects, because I let them chase
the wild chickens. (Hey! They blew off steam that way)
Anyway, the Island Commander hatched the plan for me
to present it to the BritRep when he boarded the plane
the following morning. I guarantee you we were
not sobber. Before I left the club the Brit
asked me for a lift in the morning. You can
imagine how I felt, when I picked him up in the
morning and have a chicken in a 13" cube box in the
back seat. Once I arrived at the tarmac, Cdr.
Tilleson (CO MCB-10), not sure of the spelling, was
looking me shaking his head no. The poor British
subject never got to go to Maurisius.
I have many more sea stories.
By the way, if Cdr. Tilleson is still around bugging
people, he still owes a couple of cartons of
cigaretts. Even when we both departed DG for
Bankok, he still bumed cigaretts from me on the whole
flight.
Hoping to hear from any of my troops. 11/72
to 6/73 NAME:
Ronald Edwards MY
QUEST: Built A landing E-MAIL:
dreamslyr254@yahoo.com SERVICE:
Navy (seebee's) 11/72
to 6/73 NAME
= Ronald Edwards MY
QUEST = Built A landing E-MAIL
= dreamslyr254@yahoo.com SERVICE
= Navy (seebee's) Nov
1972-Nov 173 Tim
Anderson <tim.anderson@dnr.state.mn.us> I
landed on the Rock in Nov. 1972 and left in Nov.1973.
had a great time. I was with NAVCOMSTA as a UT
(Seabees) in the Public Works Department, among the
first to have to spend a full year there, lived in a
hootch the whole time. If there is anything I can do
for you, please let me know. Tim
Anderson Building
Utilities Mechanic Itasca
State Park, Minnesota JULY
1972 -MARCH 1973 NAME
= BOB MURRAY MY
QUEST = WAITING FOR THE CEMENT SHIP, THEY HAD ALL THE
GOOD STUFF. VT
of a SWALLOW = A LOT SLOWER THAN IT USED TO BE E-MAIL
= BOBNJOANIE@COMCAST.NET NATIONALITY
= AMERICAN SERVICE
= NAVY UNIT
= LSC / ENGINEER ON THE MIC BOATS (BLUEBIRD) RANK/RATE/JOB
= EN3 MY INTEREST IN DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = This is a No-Shit Fishing Story MY
WARSTORY = Each month we took a Mic boat for a trip
around the outside of the island to test for
pollution. That
was when the best fishing happened. You could
catch tuna if you could reel them in before the sharks
got them, so that's when you fish for the sharks. I
caught a 5 footer and hauled him on the fantail of the
boat and beat him with a hammer to calm him down. I
got a picture of me holding this shark by the tail
with his head laying on he deck. I guess I didn't beat
him hard enough with the hammer cuz just as soon as
the shutter closed on the camera this shark turned his
head and took a nip out of my leg. I went and found a
bigger hammer. Twice-1972
& 1974 NAME
= Richard B Scott MY
QUEST = to share info and find old buddies VT
of a SWALLOW = 70mph E-MAIL
= warratseabeediver@hotmail.com NATIONALITY
= U.S. SERVICE
= U.S. Navy UNIT
= Uct ONE TAD to NMCB 62 and again as CPOIC DET UCT
ONE RANK/RATE/JOB
= Then BU1/DV then BUC/ DV Nw retired as CWO4 CEC USN MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane MY
WARSTORY = First trip we worked on the outer reef
Sewage Discharge pipes-extending them Etc. BRAVO co
ut1 Seaman? would wait about 5 minutes after we
entered the water and then turn on the pumps (We had
them secured off supposidly) you talk about being shit
on Raw Sewage would inundate us for a few seconds and
when it cleared a little here come the Sharks. Well
needless to say out of the water and say a prayer. We
eventually straigtened it out and the pumps remained
off until we told them. We as divers of course had our
own boat and we conducted many training dives for
seashells and dove the outer reef once and you talk
about Jacques Cousteau's Films of beautiful tropical
reefs on DG the outer reef is very steep, and crystal
clear. We would dive down to 100Feet and just sit on
the reef edge below there was thousands of feet of
Indian Ocean. We could see our bubbles rising to the
surface. All around us would be sea life, turtles,
sharks, large migratory fish, just a Diver's dream. Second
trip we installed the 2 POL Lines that the pier was
built over. That took a lot of SeaBee Engineering-The
Chinese Dredge on a multimillion Dollar Contract did a
lousy job. They skipped sections, were too shallow or
deep in some areas, etc. but we installed it,
Hydostatically Tested it (passed) and we departed
after about 2 months. 1972-1974 NAME
= RONALD D. MCKINNEY MY
QUEST = UNSURE E-MAIL
= RHNMCK@FUSE.NET SERVICE
= NAVY SEABEE COMPANY 312 STEELWORKER UNIT
= STEELWORKER MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Other SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell MY
WARSTORY = This is Ronald D. Mckinney's first daughter
and I am trying to find out just little bits of
information on him. He passed away seven years
ago and some things just don't add up with what he
told us and what we have found out on our own.
My father was a bery intellagent man. Loved to
write and loved music. I'm sure he was a drinker
and a smoker. If anyone out there knows anything
about him or remembers him can you please help me
out. I would be glad to hear from you.
Rhonda Summer
of 72-Winter(so they called it) of 72 NAME
= Jerel W Ehlert Sr MY
QUEST = Enlightenment for the masses E-MAIL
= jerelsr@hotmail.com NATIONALITY
= American SERVICE
= USNAVY UNIT
= USNMCB10 Runway RANK/RATE/JOB
= EOCN MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell MY
WARSTORY = Should have known I was in for a "very
intersting" tour from the start when we landed in Iraq
to refuel. Nothing but sand! While flying
over India (back during the Pack-India conflict) we
were asked to land (at the request of 3 migs) at
Bombay. MIA for 21hrs because lines to US embacy were down
due to rain. Armed troops boarded plane to
confiscate film (mine along with others) because we
were seen taking pictures. And you thought you
had problems with your travel arrangements!
Finally got things cleared up and took off.
Made it to Bangcok in time to catch the C-130 that had
been waiting for us for 24hrs. Still had not
been told where in the world we were or where the heck
we were going. Man, that plane was loud and the
nets for seats was uncomforatable for 8hrs. Ever
try to urinate through a hole out the side of a
C-130? In turbulance? With a plane full of
people watching? When we finally got to DG I
thought we were landing in a cow pasture back
home. Come to find out it was a gravel
road. Thus was my introduction to home for the
next 4(?) months. Fortunatly, my departure would
be on part of the new paved runway (which I had helped
to build).
A lot of the rest of the time is but fadding
memories. However I do recall a pounding in my
head (only partly caused by the vibrating roller as I
crowled up and down the runway compacting
coarl). Our living quarters was a tin roof
supported by 2x4s, 4x8 plywood nailed 4 foot up, with
skreen the rest of the way. Plywood floors, and
metal bunk beds (top rack was cooler at night because
of the breez) and metal lockers. Great swimming. I
prefered the calmer waters of the lagoon. Didn't
learn of any sharks until yust receiently.
Thanks!!! Must have just missed Bob Hope.
Too Bad, always liked Bob. But had one hell of a
time in Bangcok for 24hrs on the way back to the
Calif. beaches. They didn't impress me that much
after DG. 1972-1973 NAME
= David Trogdon E-MAIL
= trogdon@gmail.com NATIONALITY
= USA SERVICE
= USAF UNIT
= 316th OMS RANK/RATE/JOB
= Sgt and C-130 Crew Chief MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane MY
WARSTORY = I can't say exactally when I passed through
DG. Probalby late 1972 or early 1973.
I was a Crew Chief on C-130 transports stationed in
Langley Filed VA. During that time is was common to do
Temporary Duty (TDY) from Langley, to CCK Tiawan and
from there in-country to Viet Nam and various other
destinations in the Far East.
At one point we flew into Bangcock Thiland. In
Bangcock we loaded the plane with Sea Bees and
assorted personell. From there we made one of the
longest and most boring flights (nearly 12 hours if I
remeber correctly) into DG. It seems at the time the
runway was not long enough for the larger C-141's etc.
that would come later.
During the flight (being the Crew Chief) I had the
luxury of stringing up a streacher from the ceiling
members over the rear ramp and had a sleeping bag and
air intake cushion for a pillow.
We spent the night there and I don't remember too much
excpet talk about cocunuts, coconut crabs and guys
that had been there so long certain parts of thier
anatomy would drag in the dirt leaving a trail as they
walked.
I seem to remember the 'Chow Hall' had pretty decent
food.
The next day we loaded up more Sea Bee's who tour had
come to an end. We flew back to Bangcock where it was
my understanding they were to board a commercial
flight back to the States, specifically New York City.
When we arrived in Bangcock the Sea Bee's were marched
off the plane in formation under guard and into a
secure room where they had to wait for the flight back
to the US. It seemed a bit severe but my understanding
was there was no way these guys were going to be given
a chance to get away into Bangcock after being
secluded on DG for 90 or more days. None of them had
seen a woman in at least that long and Bangcock has
something of a reputation if you know what I mean.
So .. thats my story about my trip to DG. 1972-1973 NAME
= Richard Sweeney MY
QUEST = stroll down memorie lane VT
of a SWALLOW = 0 E-MAIL
= Sea4shure@comcast.net NATIONALITY
= USA SERVICE
= US Navy UNIT
= MCB 62 Bravo Company RANK/RATE/JOB
= UTCN on DG Then UT3 for the remainder of my hitch
after DG MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = Other MY
WARSTORY = Memories MacDonnalds the coldest sodas and
beer on the Island, The man uhose name renmaes names
(DO to nationally) who always got in our way driving
down the road on the wrong side into us. Replacing the
sewer lift pumps everytime they broke doen. Bob Hope's
Christmass show, being the only people able to drive
to the movies every night in our bright red truck.
Longusta for dinner and the angel fish hanging arround
the Desaltation barge. ANd most of all all the Women
on the Island psych. 1972 NAME
= THOMAS ( SKI ) STEMPINSKI MY
QUEST = TO FIND SOME OF MY BUDDYS VT
of a SWALLOW = E-MAIL
= MADDOG86404@YAHOO.COM NATIONALITY
= POLOCK SERVICE
= US NAVY UNIT
= MCB-10 RANK/RATE/JOB
= STEEL WORKER PUT
UP ALL THE RADAR ANTENNAS MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = My Time There is Lost in an
Alcoholic Haze, Help Me Remember! SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = This is a No-Shit Drinking Story MY
WARSTORY = WE LIVED DOWN AT CAMP BUGGY. IN STRONG BACK
TENTS OUR BASE WAS RIGHT AT THE LOOP OF THE
ISLAND 1/2 WAY FROM THE MAIN CAMP AND THE PLANTATION.
WE STAYED IN STRONG BACK TENTS, HAD OUTDOOR SHOWERS
AND CRAP ERs. IF THE GENERATOR WENT OUT AT NIGHT ALL
THE DONKEYS WOULD INVADE OUR CAMP.WITH ALL THE COCONUT
TREES WE KNOCKED DOWN WE PICKED UP A LOT OF COCONUT
CRABS, WE STILL HAD SOME GRASS HUTS LEFT FROM THE
NATIVES ON OUR CAMP. SO EVERY DAY WE PULLED OUR
DOSSIERS UP AND TOSSED IN WHAT CRABS WE FOUND UNTIL WE
HAD 20 OR 30 OF THEM. FILLED A 50 GALLON DRUM UP WITH
WATER AND HAD A CRAB COOK. AFTER THE ANTENNAS,
WE WORKED ON THE RUNWAY. A SHIP BROUGHT IN THE CEMENT
BUT THE SAND WAS TAKEN FROM THE BEACH AND THE ROCK WAS
REALLY PARTS OF THE REEF WE BLASTED AND DREDGED. I WAS
ONE OF THE EARLY DJS AT THE RADIO STATION. THE FIRST
ONE WAS ONLY ABOUT 8 FOOT BY 12 FOOT. THE STUFF WE
PLAYED WAS WHAT EVER WE COULD GET OUR MOMS TO SHIP TO
US IN THE MAIL. A LOT OF REEL TO REEL A BUTT LOAD OF 8
TRACKS AND IF THEY DIDN'T WARP TOO BAD, SOME KILLER
VINYL. AND YOU'RE RIGHT.. THE STATION HELPED WITH THE
BOREDOM AT NIGHT. ( A GUY CAN ONLY WATCH SO MANY BLACK
AND WHITE MOVIES, MOST OF THEM WERE BRIT COMEDIES AND
THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES. NOW WHEN THE LIMEYS
CAME IN FROM THEIR SHIP, THAT WAS SOME FUN. THEM
BOYS LOVE TO DRINK AND FIGHT. WE HAD THE EM CLUB SHUT
DOWN SO MANY TIMES WE STARTED MAKING OUR OWN BOOZE (
RAISIN JACK ) TASTED LIKE POND SCUM BUT HAD A PRETTY
GOOD KICK TO IT. THANK
GOD FOR ALL THEM FARM BOYS, THEY COULD MAKE ANYTHING
DRINKABLE.. ANY WAY THANKS FOR BRINGING BACK ALL THE
GOOD TIMES. I HEAR YOU CAN HAVE WOMEN ON THE ISLAND
NOW. BACK THEN THE ONLY WOMEN WERE THE USO GIRLS AND
THEY WERE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY, WITH AN ARMED GUARD
POSTED OUTSIDE. WE PARTED THE ROCK JUST AS BOB HOPE'S
JET WAS COMING IN. YOU KNOW HIS JET WAS THE FIRST JET
TO LAND ON THAT RUN WAY. KIND
OF COOL TO THINK I WAS A PART OF MAKING THE ROCK WHAT
IT IS TODAY. ( AS WERE WE ALL ) BUT DON'T LET HISTORY
WRITE ON THE MEN OF 10. WE WERE THERE AND I CAN'T
SPEAK FOR THE OTHERS BUT I WOULD LOVE TO GO BACK 1972 NAME
= Jay Reddington E-MAIL
= jr@csa-ce.com SERVICE
= USN UNIT
= NMCB-1 Nothing
to report. 1972-1973
with MCB-62 AND 1976-1977 WITH MCB133 NAME
= GARY MILLER MY
QUEST = TRIP OH DOWN MEMORY OR
MAMORY LANE VT
of a SWALLOW = 99 MPH AND 110 PROOF E-MAIL
= oldbear1452@yahoo.com NATIONALITY
= american SERVICE
= SEABEES UNIT
= HELPED BUILD MINI GOLF, TENNIS COURTS,
AFRTS RADIO TOWER, MARS STATION SCAFFOLD TOWER AND
OTHER FUN STUFF RANK/RATE/JOB
= BUCN AND BU-3 MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Geo-political Rabble Rousing SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = This is a No-Shit Snorkeling Story MY
WARSTORY = i HAVE THE HONOR OF BEING A PLANK OWNER OF
THE ORIGIONAL DG MINI GOLF COURSE. aLSO WHEN BOB
HOPE CAM TO TOWN I GOT TO BE THE DRIVER FOR LOLA (GOD
SHE WAS FINE) FALANA AND NOT ONE BUT TWO (HELL YES IM
BRAGGING) OF BOB'S AMERICAN BUITIES (OH GOD WERE
THEY). LOLA GOT INTO THE JEEP AND BEFORE WE GOT
AWAY FROM THE AIR STRIP SHE ASK IF I HAD ANYTHING TO
SMOKE? I PULLED OUT A PACK OF SQUARES. SHE SAID "BABY
YOU KNOW THAT ISN'T WHAT LOLA IS TALKING ABOUT" SO I
PULLED THE EVER PRESENT METAL 35 MM FILM CANISTER OUT
AND MY TRUSTY PIPE AND SHE SAYS "NOW THATS WHAT LOLA
WANTS" BY THE TIME WE GOT TO THE CONTONMENT AREA WE
WERE ALL FOUR AS HIGH AS A GEORGIA PINE.
I GOT TO SEE THE SHOW UP CLOSE AS A FILM RUNNER.
DOES ANY ONE REMEMBER THE MARS ANTINNA WE PUT ON THE
SCAFFOLD TOWER SOME,..[[''///./PP//.;'..-=--= TOOK THE
BALLEN OUT OF THE NEW BOX AND PUT IT ON THE OLD
ANT. BECAUSE HE HAD BLOWEN THE BALLEN ON THE OLD
LOG AND HE CLEANED THE OLD BALLEN UP AND PUT IT IN THE
NEW ANT. BOX. WE LODED THE NEW LOG ON THE GROUND
AND IT WAS PURFECT PUT IT IN THE AIR AND EVERYTHING
PUT OUT WAS REFLECTED BACK DID IT WHAT THREE OR FOUR
TIMES BEFORE HE CONFESSED HIS SIN AND WE THRETEND TO
KILL HIM OR WORSE REUP HIM ON THE ROCK. DO YOU
REMEMBER THE NIGHT THE LIFERS WERE GOING TO BUST THE
POT HEADS? ABOUT TWENTY OF THEM CAME DOWN TO THE BEACH
AND ABOUT TWO HUNDRED OF US WERE ON THE BEACH PARTING
AND THEY TURNED AROUND AND BACK INTO THE JUNGLE THEY
WENT. 1972 Subject:
DG Pics Date:
Thu,
25 Aug 2005 00:44:43 -0400 (Eastern Standard Time) From:
"66cuda"
<66cuda@comcast.net>
Here are some pics from Feb. 1972. I hope the quality
is good enough. Thanks for posting my hunt for
Dan Hurley so quickly, I didn't expect it to post that
fast!
All these pics were taken from the beach behind "the
campsite" as we called it. They are of the three
small islands, the desalinization barge, a cargo ship
making port and the beach. I hadn't looked at
these pictures in about twenty years before I
found your web site! They bring back allot of
memories! Thanks
for the web site and all the good you do for our
brothers and sisters. Dave
Snyder 66cuda@comcast.net  July 1972 -
May 1973 NAME = Howard
Henze MY QUEST =
Radio Reindeer Staff VT of a
SWALLOW = 110 ft.sec E-MAIL =
bchhenze@bellsouth.net NATIONALITY =
US SERVICE =
NAVY UNIT = LSC RANK/RATE/JOB
= Former Lieutenant, Special Services Officer, Tried
to be general good guy MY INTEREST
IN DG IS = Other SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell MY WARSTORY =
HI, I've declared
myself as Comandant of Radio Reindeer since no one
else seemed to want that title. I'd like to
talk to other guys who remember the radio station and
maybe some of the stuff we pulled on the air. I have
several hours of my own radio shows and the complete
recording of the Bob Hope Show, such as it is. If
there's anyone out there who remembers Mrs. Hope's
(Delores) rendition of White Christmas, finishing with
"...may all your Christmases be HOME". who didn't end
that show crying, I don't need to talk to you... A few things:
the radio station had a lot of fun at others expense.
There was "Hover craft" advertisements. These referred
to our distinguished deputy commander. There were also
"Bruce the Fierce" movie reviews that went without
saying. No one ever bothered me about these things
meaning that they 1) didn't listen, or 2) didn't get
it. The radio was
a lot of fun for those of us who did it.....
S"Advertisements', slogans, features and all... If anyone
remembers, let me know Subject:
Radio
Reindeer Comandant Date:
Sat,
15 Oct 2005 23:59:02 -0400 From:
"howard
henze" <bchhenze@bellsouth.net> HI,
I was the evil officer in charge of Radio Reindeer
when it went to multi-watts in 1972.
I've contributed before but would like to declare
myself, now. My Executives include John Delso and
Larry Bruen (long may they wave !). I would propose to
have no duties BUT I have several CD's of my own radio
show and a complete recording (such as it is) of the
Bob Hope Christmas Show of 1972. My technical and
spiritual adviser, although he may have many other
positions in the heirarchy, is Carl Villanueva. One
needs a guru.
My final comment is this: If anyone who was at the
Christmas Show in 1972 and does not show a tear when
Mrs. (Delores) Hope sings".....may all your
Christmases, be HOME", turn in your credentials as a
citizen of the rock Otherwise,
"Hover On" Howie Henze bchhenze@bellsouth.net 1972, NMCB
10, 1975 NMCB 40, 1981-82 PWC NAME = Ted
Martinez (Marty) MY QUEST = To
go back for a couple of weeks VT of a
SWALLOW = E-MAIL =
ttema49@aol.com NATIONALITY =
Hisp/Amer SERVICE =
U.S. Navy (Seabees) UNIT = EO RANK/RATE/JOB
= After 24 years retired as EO1 MY INTEREST
IN DG IS = Want to Drink A Lot, Cheap SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = There I Was, Passed Out on The Beach MY WARSTORY =
Love My Tour Aug 1972 thru
Mar 1973 NAME = Ron
Ronning E-MAIL =
rronning@info-link.net SERVICE =
Navy MBC 62 UNIT =
Electrician Installed Pipe and wire pulls and set
lights for the runway RANK/RATE/JOB
= CECN MY INTEREST
IN DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = Other MY WARSTORY =
I was eighteen and my first deployment overseas as a
Seabee. I worked with some great men (CE2 Racer,
CE1 Charley Hughes, CECN Chandler and a lot of
others) I never felt heat so much in my
life. This deployment was a life changing
experience to me. I grew up a lot. I was
always very proud to be a Seabee. I helped get
the runway ready for the Bob Hope show on Xmas
day. We worked many hours to make sure he could
land with a c141. By the way the first c-141 on
Degio Garcia. I sat in the front row and had a
great time. A highlight on the tour. We
all worked our butts off day in and day out. I
use to remember going down the runway at night when
the lights were pulled apart by crabs. We
mounted a chair on the jeep hood and I or some one
else would sit on it as we went about 50 miles per
hour trying to find the break in the cable. we
used a flash light to do this. We alway found
the break luckly so the plane could land. We did
this on many occasions. I always remeber the
water hours. If you missed it, no shower that
night. I remeber the huts we lived in and how
hot it was in them. I wish I could go back to
the island to see it today. Oct 72 to
oct 73 NAME = Karl
"Fuzzy" Manzer MY QUEST = to
survive VT of a
SWALLOW = one gulp E-MAIL =
t_framer@yahoo.com NATIONALITY =
american SERVICE =
Navy UNIT =
AIROPS/weather RANK/RATE/JOB
= AGAN came off of diego AG3 currently
100% disabled MY INTEREST
IN DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell MY WARSTORY =
So Much to tell, I seem to remember a lot more about
DG than most people but then I think I saw a different
DG than anyone else.Does anyone remember Senior Chief
Ian Richardson RN. He was master at arms for the
island and unwillingly he became my mentor. I worked
12 on 12 off at AirOps lots of the time alone. Chief
Richardson would show up at night and want to talk to
me. At first I hated him and would hide in my com room
where he couldn't come, but he finally broke me down.
somehow that guy knew everything we did. In
those days we had two radio nets on the island, one
military and one for the freaks. At nights we would
take a pr-2 mobile to the beach so we knew where the
officers were while we partied. Boy do I
remember the cement ship Bamburi, those guys would
come down the gangplank with a big bundle under their
arm, to us it was the best weed in the world. The only
weed.Does anyone remember Petey Wheat Straw, he was a
black who volunteered at the AFRTS station.(I was
Gandalf the Grey late at night) He knew the guys on
the ship and everything came thru him. I hung with the
blacks for a while, caused quite a stir the first time
they "gave me Pea" in the chowhall. Well Richardson
soon put a stop to that and we were not allowed to
have any contact with crew members and no one was
allowed off the ships anymore. That caused a real
problem for me, the smack was still there and my
friends were doing it and I wanted to save them. Saw a
lot of good guys go down the tubes. Talk about horror
stories , how bout the time the seabee came back from
Bangkok with a condom full of junk up his ass and it
broke. We kept him in the shower for hours trying to
keep him conscious. yeah there were good times and
there were the bad times that most people don't want
to remember. Like Steven Benson dying in a sensless
accident that should never have happened, there is
more to that story than everyone knew.
And Yeah I was the guy who got to kiss Miss World, the
director approached me at AIROPS,gave me a script and
told me to come backstage before the show to rehearse
with Bob.Remember how many Chivas Regal bottles we
took off of their plane???
And how about the end of the war comes to Diego Garcia
and Lt Henze asked the commander if he wanted to
address the troops, boy did he get his ass chewed.
Then he wrote a letter to the editor about the
incident to his hometown paper. I thought sure that
would be the end of his career.
And how about the time everyone was so pissed because
we couldn't get pot anymore. We hatched a scheme to
take over the AFRTS station and shut it down after the
plane from Don Maung was past the point of no
return.(In those days our Navaids only reached out
about a hundred miles so they homed in on the AFRTS
transmitter.)Our demands were met with how many
marines will it take to subdue you!
Boy was I pissed when they took away our jeep, it
seems the batallions were rotating and couldn't find
the paperwork for about a dozen vehicles. The navy way
was of course take a crane and smash them together
then take them by Mike boat offshore for burial.
I still beleive that Gary Starr and I built the first
treehouse, we had multilevels in a Banyan tree. The
seabees soon confiscated some concrete forms and built
a real house in a tree. I would
still like to know how many peices of equipment were
driven off the reef at night. It was our world at
night and the officers never left officer country,
especially the Brit Rep I think he feared for his
life.
Does anyone else remember the "Noodle o's incident" It
seems that some one had a lot (hundreds) of these
little pink pills that just scrambled your brains. I
will never forget passing an Athey wagon (pan
scraper)The seabee driving looked like he was riding a
bull and yelling " Noodle ooooooooo's".
Well Ted these aren't what most people remember but
like I said I had a different experience. You may not
want to post all of this and that is OK. But for me
the drugs and what they did to everybody has stayed
with me most of all. I have felt a lot of guilt for
the guys who got hit by "Operation Goldenflow", I knew
they were headed to the Philipines for detox and then
a bad conduct discharge. It wasn't their fault to be
in the wrong place at the wrong time and be human, yet
the rest of their lives were changed by that
discharge. Fuzzy 72 - 73 NAME =
Patrick Ross MY QUEST =
Sweet Memories E-MAIL =
Patrick E Ross@usps.com NATIONALITY =
Hillbilly SERVICE = USN UNIT =
NAVELEX/PRECOMM DETAIL RANK/RATE/JOB
= RADIOMAN THIRD CLASS MY INTEREST
IN DG IS = My Time There is Lost in an Alcoholic Haze,
Help Me Remember! SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell MY WARSTORY =
I just recently found this web site and found myself
trying to remember some of buddies I made there. I was
surprised to not see any letters
from other RM's that were part of the pre-comm.
While there, all of us (RM's and ET's) lived in a
hooch on the ocean side near the MARS station. I have
a ton of photos that I want to dig out and send to
you. Also, I have what was the island patch at the
time. I will also scan this.
As much as i hated the rock, it was the quickest year
of my life. That may be because of the amount of dope
I smoked or the wine and beer.
Does anyone remember the SS Bamburi (cement
ship)? They alwas brought good weed. 1972 NAME = Bruce
(Buck) Shaw E-MAIL =
bucksheila1@aol.com NATIONALITY =
American SERVICE = US
Navy Seabees UNIT = MCB 62
Alpha Co. RANK/RATE/JOB
= CM3 then now CMC retired MY INTEREST
IN DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = I'd Like to Share Precious Memories of
Drinking/Fishing/Snorkeling/Sailing on Diego Garcia MY WARSTORY =
I was in "A" company night crew. I worked in the
shops. I also was the bartender in the acey ducey club
for the night crew. I remember the Bob Hope show
we worked nights so when we got off that morning we
were some of the first men there. we had great seats.
I took alot of pictures (thats all we had to do there.
I viewed the pictures on this site and reconized alot
of old friends like: Troy Alley, Mike Thurlow, Tom
Rudloff, CM1 Patrick, CM1 Purvis, John "Boot" Winger,
Sam DeMao, Chillie Willie and alot more. It was great
to see them again. I will dig out my old photos and
look again. MCB-10 1971
Okinawa / 1972 Rota Spain / Det Chagos March 72 to Nov
72 NAME = Ken
Fleck EO3 MY QUEST =
Glad to put my time in for the "Country" E-MAIL =
swskfleck@msn.com NATIONALITY =
U.S. baby SERVICE = USN
MCB-10 UNIT = We set
the cummunication (telephone poles) for sending and
receiving sites. RANK/RATE/JOB
= EO3 ran cranes for MCB-10 Det Chagos and also
nightline D.J. on KDG radio (krummy Diego Garcia) MY INTEREST
IN DG IS = Other SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = Please Select a Title For Your Story, or
Select 'Other' MY WARSTORY =
The only war stories on Diego Garcia was fighting the
mosquittos at night and trying to make it through
befoe getting all the blood sucked out of you.
As far as fun, making sure a couple of cases of steaks
and lobsters disappeard while being unloaded from the
supply ships between the barge and DG propper. 1972-1973 NAME = Mark
Fontaine MY QUEST =
memories man, memories! VT of a
SWALLOW = E-MAIL =
Fontaine.Mark@dol.gov NATIONALITY =
US of A SERVICE =
Navy UNIT = MCB-62 RANK/RATE/JOB
= Was an HM2 on DG retired as an HMC. I was the
"Ratman" who sprayed for mosquitoes and trappped the
fruit rats that were chewing the callouses off the
feet of the soundly sleeping (either from long days
working on the runway or long nights drinking at the
EM club.) seabees. MY INTEREST
IN DG IS = Professional Adventurer Looking For The
Ultimate Get Away SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = This is a No-Shit Fishing Story MY WARSTORY =
As part of maintaining the ecological balance on the
Island, all the turds from the Island Shitters were
pumped directly out to sea until the sewage treatment
station could be completed. The Brit Rep (there was
only one Brit on the Island when I first got there.)
wanted to make sure there were no "floaters" making
there way back to the beach and that the waters off
shore were not contaiminated, so the medical dept
would take out one of the LCM's to take water samples
and test em for bacteria back at the world famous lab
back at sick bay. Of course it turned into a great
fishing trip. First we would catch huge yellow fin
tuna, cut em up and use the pieces as bait to catch
shark. I will never forget the site of a bunch of
drunken sailors beating the shit out of a 16 foot
shark in the well deck of the LCM while it was
thrashing and snapping at anything that moved. Ah what
fun!
We had a young Seabee who had severe appendicitis and
we could not get him off the island before it would
probably burst, so we did the surgery right there. Dr.
Willett did the surgery. I was the anesthesiologist
(demoral drip as I rembember). The guy got a personal
vistit from Miss World who traveling with Bob Hope. So many
stories so little space! 1972 1973 NAME = howard
l mcdaniel E-MAIL =
dani2199@bellsouth.net SERVICE =
usnavy UNIT = fuel
farm RANK/RATE/JOB
= abf1 / abfc /retired MY INTEREST
IN DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane MY WARSTORY =
it was another world and i would not take for the time
spent there bob hope i will never forget 1972 - 1973 NAME = ROBERT
GORE MY QUEST =
LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO BE A PAIN IN THE ASS TO MY KIDS VT of a
SWALLOW = DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU'RE DRINKING E-MAIL =
robert.gore1@navy.mil NATIONALITY =
USA SERVICE = USN UNIT =
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT RANK/RATE/JOB
= ON D G I WAS AN HN/HM3. WORKED SICK CALL AND
OPERATING ROOM MY INTEREST
IN DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane MY WARSTORY =
On D G with NMCB-62 72-73 deployment. Remember Bob
Hope show, nightly movies (in the rain), cheap beer at
the E-Club and the sound of coconuts banging on the
tin roof of the Doc's hootch. Place was a real
Gilligan's Island. After
scanning through 1972 site I recognize a couple of
names: Mike Geno and Dr. Murray. I'm going to try and
contact them. Anyone elso
out there surfing who remembers me please give me a
shout at the e-mail above. I stayed
around the Navy and retired as an HMC in 1991.I still
have fond memories of "The Rock" and probably always
will. June 1972,
until November 1972 NAME = Dan
Welander MY QUEST =
See more pictures on the island. I was with MCB
10, and one of the 1st Americans on the island. E-MAIL =
dwelander@andersencorp.com NATIONALITY =
American SERVICE =
Navy UNIT = USN
MCB 10 RANK/RATE/JOB
= PN2 SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = There I Was, Passed Out on The Beach MY WARSTORY =
One of the 1st Americans to arrive on the
island. We went by boat from Bangkok. I
lived in a tent for 3 months, they in a plywood
quonset hut. I spent 7 or 8 months on the
island. I have been to Diego Garcia twice.
I came back in June 1973, with the battalion.
The second time I was there was for only a few
weeks. I would like to find pictures of the
battalion from back in 1972 and 1973. I remember
a lot of R&R in Bangkok and Sydney. 1972,1973,1974 NAME = jerry
cripe MY QUEST =
retirement VT of a
SWALLOW = english or african? E-MAIL =
jerry.cripe@navy.mil NATIONALITY =
wasp SERVICE = US
NAVY UNIT =
NMCB-10 RANK/RATE/JOB
= MY INTEREST
IN DG IS = Want to Drink A Lot, Cheap SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = Please Select a Title For Your Story, or
Select 'Other' MY WARSTORY =
NO STORY. NAVY MADE ME STAY ON THE ISLAND AND BUILD
STUFF. 1972
NAME = DEL KLUCAR
MY QUEST = FIND SOME OLD FRIENDS
VT of a SWALLOW = SAME AS A GOONEY BIRD?
E-MAIL = CBENDURO@HOTMAIL.COM
NATIONALITY = AMERICAN
SERVICE = U S NAVY SEABEES
UNIT = NMCB#1 C/D COMPANY
RANK/RATE/JOB = SWCN
MY INTEREST IN DG IS = My Time There is Lost in an
Alcoholic Haze, Help Me Remember!
SUBJECT OF MY STORY: = Other
MY WARSTORY = I HELPED BUILD THE CEMENT SILOS, WHICH I
SEE ARE STILL STANDING. WE USED TO GET CEMENT IN GIANT
BLADDERS. I REMEMBER THE FIRST SHIP TO DELIVER CEMENT
WAS FROM AFRICA, MAN THOSE GUYS COULD PARTY. BOUGHT A
SMALL HOMEMADE (EVERYTHING WAS HOMEMADE) SAILBOAT FROM
SOMEONE BEFORE US. USED TO SAIL OUT IN THE BAY,
REMEMBER SEEING A MACO SHARK SWIM RIGHT UNDER US. THEN
RAY RODGERS GOT DRUNK ONE NIGHT AND CAPSIZED THE BOAT,
HAD TO SWIM BACK. HE WAS LUCKY. I TOOK R&R IN
BANGCOK WITH CHRIS STRATTEN. WOUND UP STAYING THERE 15
DAYS, LONG ENOUGH TO FALL IN LOVE WITH MY RENTAL,
SAMONG. HEY, I WAS 18. THINK I WAS ON THE BUS WITH
TONY DEMICHAEL, AND I REMEMBER DRINKING A LOCAL HOOCH
MADE BY CUTTING THE COCONUT BUDS, STUFFING THEM IN A
JUG, HANGING THE JUG IN THE TREE FOR A MONTH OR SO.
AND DID ANYONE EVER FIND SEABEE MAN? GLAD I JUST
REMEMBER THE GOOD TIMES. THAT WAS ONE BEAUTIFUL
ISLAND. MY NIECE FLYS NOW WITH THE AF AND HAS BEEN
THERE, SAYS ITS EVEN BETTER NOW W/ AIR CONDITIONED
BARRACKS. 1971 and
1972, but only one day each yer
NAME = Robert Powers
MY QUEST = The Truth --- Mostly
VT of a SWALLOW = Same as for a B1-RD or a GU-11
E-MAIL = blarny2@juno.com
NATIONALITY = USA
SERVICE = USAF
UNIT = C-130 pilot
RANK/RATE/JOB = Then, Col.; Now, Col., (Ret.)
MY INTEREST IN DG IS = Professional Adventurer Looking
For The Ultimate Get Away
SUBJECT OF MY STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story
To Tell
MY WARSTORY = On 14 Sept 1971, I flew the second
airplane to land on Diego Garcia's new and unfinished
runway, about 4,500 feet worth. We came in a
374th TAW C-130, having departed U-Tapao AB, Thailand,
with a passenger/cargo stop at Don Muang airport,
Bangkok, before launching for DG, logging 8.7 hours in
the effort. As I shut down the engines, I was
aware of a group assembling outside. When I presented
myself at the forward entry hatch, I was greeted
with the shrill and welcome sound of boatswain's
pipes. I was being piped aboard! This was
particularly enjoyable, because I had risen to the
prodigious rank of E-3 in the Marines in WW2.
Who'd have thought!
The commanding officer, whose name I regretfully
forget, a commander (CEC) in the Navy, was a gracious
and knowledgable host who gave me a guided tour of the
island, commenting on flora and fauna. He gave
me a magnificent reticulated cowrie shell as a
souvenir. I recall him pointing out the golfball
size bits of gray stuff floating at the water's edge,
which he said was pumice. Since it wasn't local,
his theory was that it was remnants of the great
Krakatoa volcanic explosion.
I had a fine hootch all to myself (being the only 0-6
in sight), which reminded me of my Pacific sojourn in
1944-1945, except that DG with its beautiful
tradewinds was far superior. Left for Bangkok
the following day.
Saw the PBY Catalina which you all call Katie, and
have one corrective comment; the internal fuel of a
PBY is 1750 gallons, not 1450. I flew Catalinas
and Albatrosses in the USAF Rescue Service, 1949-1954.
I also have a question; although I know zilch about
DG's weather, I do know it is out of the cyclonic
zone. How often would a storm of the magnitude
that beat up Katie occur in the Chagos Archipelago?
Returned to DG 5 Feb 1972 on a similar mail/cargo run,
and had a flight nurse in the crew, an attractive USAF
captain (female, naturally), because we had to
air-evac two sailors. After a similarly pleasant
overnight of cold beer and relaxation, we readied for
departure. One of our patients was in a Stokes
litter, suffering from a badly broken leg. The other
was completely ambulatory, which made me ask the nurse
what his problem was. Quothe she, "He's got
Brand X." The young sailor in question had spent
an obviously interesting R&R someplace. It
would take more sophisticated medicine than available
on DG to relieve him of his complaint. 1972
NAME = Howard Henze
MY QUEST = Buddies from L.S.C. and Radio Reindeer
E-MAIL = bchhenze@Superior.net
NATIONALITY = US; SERVICE = USN; UNIT = Special
Services; RANK/RATE/JOB = Lieutenant, USN
MY INTEREST IN DG IS = Geo-political Rabble Rousing
SUBJECT OF MY STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story
To Tell
MY WARSTORY = Obviously not a plum assignment for a
ship driver particularly when they called it my "shore
rotation".
Saw the radio staton upgraded to how-ever-many watts.
Helped invaluabley by SK2 Knoll. After C-130's, who
had that scary point of no-return for which even the
little station was the only beacon, the C-141's would
radio in requests and tell us how many pounds of mail
they had. Had miniature golf built.
In a round about way, invited Bob Hope show. In a
direct way, got chewed out by CB Commander. These are
first pictures, other than my own, I've ever seen of
the show but I have an audio of the entire
performance.
There was beach volleyball, bad movies (for which I
took the grief), decent chow, good buddies who were
all in the same sitiuation.
Looking for Dave Camp, Hank Rowett "Billy" CB j.g.who
always kept asking, "...tell us about the ships,
Howie, tell us about the ships", Knoll (We air
conditioned our office when no one else could), Ian
Mullineaux (sp), Dr Philo ______(Lost last name
in 30years)
Came up with character of "hovercraft" reflecting one
of the least colorful and wierdest officers in Island
Command.
Does anyone still have a "Diego Garcia, Love it of
Leave it " bumper sticker ???
At the end, given a commendation for bringing Bob Hope
to the island.
As an "almost-engineer", remember watching the CB's
trying to push the ocean back from the point at the
O'Club. For those of us who spent more than a short
time there, we knew the ocean always brought back what
it took away. But, what did we know against men with
bull-dozers who knew how to use them.
On a thoroughly modern note, we valued our ghekkos.
They kept our quarters free of mosquitoes and other
bugs. Too bad GEICO has mis-appropriated these gallant
little critters.
A thoroughly unique experience in the beauty of the
place and the lack of threat from other humans or
beasties. Glad I found my "unique experience" in that
period without being shot at.
The question persists,"Why are we here ???"
Welcome e-mails and other queries. I don't have copies
of the audio but could look into it. 1972 NAME = Dave
Schlesinger MY QUEST =
Surfing the Web VT of a
SWALLOW = 0 MPH E-MAIL =
dschles960@aol.com NATIONALITY =
USA; SERVICE = USN; UNIT = Aide to COMCBPAC;
RANK/RATE/JOB = Lt - Civil Engineer Corps (1972);
Capt, CEC, USN - Ret 1990 MY INTEREST
IN DG IS = Want to Return When the First REAL Club Med
Opens SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell MY WARSTORY =
After just returning from my second Viet Nam
deployment with the Seabees I was delighted to receive
orders to COMCBPAC in Pearl Harbor which I thought was
a shore duty billet. Unfortunately for me the Admiral
(who shall go un-named because I think he is still
alive) loved to travel thru out the Pacific to get
away from his wife. I loved my wife who had two kids
(both under 2 years old!) so any trip was a pain in
the ass. One of our first visits was to Diego Garcia.
I got out a map to try and figure out where it was and
of course could not find it anywhere. The Chief on the
CBPAC staff said don't worry several people had been
there and come back to tell about it so it must be
OK. We visited Bangkok (OICCThailand) and then
took off in C-130 with special wing tanks. The pilot
said we had enough fuel to get to the island + about
45 minutes so he was going to fly in a straight line.
The Admiral had me going up to the cockpit every 15
minutes (and that was a long trip believe me)to make
sure the pilot was on course. I was a registered
professional engineer but for all I knew the C-130
could have been heading to Antartica to drop off a
deranged Rear Admiral who was bugging the heck out of
the crew. Anyway we made it - the island was beautiful
- lots of hard working Bees - and conditions were such
that they were just getting out of tents into SEAHUTS.
Not too bad for a guy used to living on the ground
with a Detachment from Dong Ha! I returned to the
island several times in 1977-1978 as a Cdr (ROICCPAC)
to see how well the reverse osmosis water
repurification system was working (it wasn't) that my
office had purchased from Ionics in Watertown, MA. My
sister was stationed on the Yosemite in the 1990's
that also was berthed at Diego but by then it had
turned into a country club with women, permanent
billeting, unlimited water for showers, and generally
was a sought after assignment (just kidding). Dave
Schlesinger Capt, CEC,
USN (Ret)1972-1973 NAME = Carl
'Vidge' Villanueva E-MAIL =
vidge@localnet.com NATIONALITY =
USA SERVICE = USN UNIT = Air
Ops RANK/RATE/JOB
= ABH2 (then) MY WARSTORY =
I'm at a loss for words...but you are invited to look
at my website (under construction) that has a bunch of
photos from my days on "the rock" from 1972-1973. it
is www.members.tripod.com/carlvillanueva 1972-73 NAME = Mike
Geno MY QUEST =
Will Hunt and Gather for Food E-MAIL =
mgeno52@gmail.com SERVICE =
Seabee; UNIT = NMCB-62; RANK/RATE/JOB = CMCN; MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Want to Drink A Lot, Cheap MY WARSTORY =
Well I knew I was in for a ride when we passed the
point of no return from Bangkok. The pilot still
didn't know for sure just where we were going. It
seems that he couldn't contact the Island "for some
reason" and the Navigator wasn't sure just where we
were, anyway as luck would have it the "Britt-Rep" was
on our illustrious aircraft and he came up with the
"Bright Idea" to just tune in the radio station and
home in on the signal, Otherwise we would just have to
head back to Bangkok and stay a few more days. Well
they found the radio station and that ended my hope of
not getting there, and as we set down on the
"Breath-taking" Island, 110 deg.F you could hardly
breath, I was in for the long haul. Six months later I
was treated with the prospect of seeing the "Bob Hope"
Show from the top of a fire truck, one of the best
seats in the house, and it looked like rain. The stage
was wet, the lights were wet, the guys that built the
stage and anybody else that could was on the stage
drying it off with their shirts, towls, and everything
else they could find. This was the first time many of
us had the chance to see a real live WOMAN in a long
time, and we were going to make sure that we got our
chance. The show went on and only one young lady
slipped in the Dance Team and there were 20 guys there
to catch her if she came off stage, luckilly for her
she didn't or she may not have made it back on stage,
for a while anyway. I got my R&R after the show
was gone but that is another story and I am sure that
there are millions of them out there, well just to say
this is a great site and as one of my Prof. told me
"My Millitary Service?" I wouldn't take a million
dollars for it. But I wouldn't give you 2 cents to
have it back. 1972 NAME = Jim
Rice E-MAIL =
jimr@mailriverview.net SERVICE =
Navy; UNIT = Air Ops; RANK/RATE/JOB = AGAN MY INTEREST
IN DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane MY WARSTORY =
Really not much to tell. We worked 12 hour shifts and
most of the time we had to start at 0500 so free time
was limited. Any free time we had was spent in that
famous alchoholic haze that seems to have assumed a
permanent position over DG. I can remember cookouts
outside the hooch by the lagoon, steaks cooked over
dried palm fronds, much better than the messhall. I
remember sand so white that it looked like snow when
we got off the C130 in the middle of the night. Before
we were allowed off the plane, we were sprayed, I
guess we must have been contaminated after two weeks
in Bankok! DG is a beautiful place as long as you are
looking at it from a distance. The most beautiful
sunrises and sunsets I have ever seen. A great
experience but I don't want to go back. June1972-Feb.1973 NAME = Bill
Bettger E-MAIL =
billbettger@hotmail.com UNIT = parts
guy, bus driver, mechanic; RANK/RATE/JOB = CM3then,
farmer now MY WARSTORY =
Anybody remember the band? Donny something-or-other
played the guitar. I took a lot of movies in the nine
months I was there with 62. Remember the homemade
hot-rods? The trike and the 4-wheeler. I have some
great movies of Bob Hope, Christmas 1972. This is a
great site! A major flood of memories, mostly good,
some a little fuzzy! Life is good. Ride safe. 1972 or 1973? NAME = james
mc daniel MY QUEST =
ain,t got none VT of a
SWALLOW = can,t remember that well! E-MAIL =
jamesmetairie@yahoo.com NATIONALITY =
usa; SERVICE = u s nav y vet 1965
,66 usmm 1967 to 1995; UNIT = was
a.b. aboard s s san antonio,usmm,and carried cargo to
submarine line in d g around 1972 RANK/RATE/JOB
= sailed usmm all my life and work for u s army corps
of engineers now as navigation lock operator in new
orleans district. MY INTEREST
IN DG IS = Want to Drink A Lot, Cheap SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = This is a No-Shit Sailing Story MY WARSTORY =
i got so drunk i can,t remember what happened ,or is
it old age?? 1972-1973 DAVID L.
TREWOLLA <DavidTre7949@aol.com>
Ted, my name is David L. Trewolla. I heard your
interview on NPR and have been fascinated with the
website. I was an Ensign and made LTjg while serving
as Admin/Personnel/Public Affairs/Legal Officer on
"the Rock" with Detail Dingo (170
plus Seabees) from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion
133 (Main Body in Rota, Spain) during November 1972 -
May 1973. During the latter half of our
deployment in 1973, one of our finest men was fatally
injured in a construction accident. I offer the
following for your memorial page:
EO3 Steven B. Benson, an Equipment Operator in Alpha
Company of Detail Dingo for NMCB 133, homeported in
Gulfport, Mississippi, was fatally injured in a
construction accident while dismantling the boom of a
mobile crane at the end of a work day. As I
recall, a portion of the boom collapsed and crushed
him when he removed a cotter pin. Steven was a
man of Christian character and served the Navy Seabees
with honor and dedication as evidenced by his
promotions. He was well liked and respected by
all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.
Steven had served in the battalion since approximately
June 1971 and was on his second deployment, the first
being to Okinawa in 1971-72. I cannot recall
Steven's home and family situation, but ask that you
please add his name to the memorial page as one who
gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
[editor's note: Steven is now listed on the Remembrance Page]
Thank you for your dedication to developing the
website. I have two cruisebooks from the
deployments of our Detail plus that of NMCB 74, whose
entire battalion was deployed to the island at the
same time as our Detail from NMCB 133. I lived
with 5 other junior officers in the northernmost
seahut on the east side of the west arm of the island
in the Cantonment Area.
We had water hours during the entire deployment.
Our salvation was having an air-conditioned officers
mess/club to enjoy for our meals and
entertainment. Otherwise, it was work from 0630
to 1730 six days a week with an hour for lunch. Mail
was delivered once a week by C-130 until C-141's began
twice weekly service after Christmas 1972 with Bob
Hope's landing. Like many tough things in life,
I appreciate the experience but would not want to do
it again. I look forward to contributing further
to the website. Good luck to you. My
e-mail address - DavidTre7949@AOL.com. I am an
attorney living in Brandon, MS and working in Jackson,
MS. I left the Navy in April 1974 after 3 years
service following an NROTC commission at Vanderbilt
University. 1972-1973 CHARLIE
COLLINS <xph2@swbell.net> Howdy,
I heard you on NPR and I went to the NPR website and
got the link to your site. It's FANTASTIC!!! I was on
DG from 8/72 to 8/73 and was a ABF3 at the Fuel Farm.
I was not aware of all the changes there have been
till I saw your site. It's been so long since I really
tried to think of people I knew there that I can't
think of a single name of anyone at the Farm. When I
left in '73 I changed rate from ABF to PH through the
SCORE program. I was attached to Combat Camera Group
in Norfolk, Va. till I got out.
I see you have Minister of Secret Police so if you
need a Minister of Coleman Lantern's (I work for the
Coleman Co. in Wichita, KS in the Security Dept.) I'll
take the position. 1972-73 BRIAN
MURRAY <b_p_murray@msn.com> I was medical
officer with MCB '62 and MCB 10 on DG fall of '72-
spring of '73 . We set world record on positives
urines with project golden-flow and CO was relieved of
command mid-deployment -- anybody out there from those
days? I imagine island has changed a lot since the
seabees built it from scratch. 1972-1973 CLYDE POWERS
<CWPGOOF@aol.com> MY NAME IS
CLYDE POWERS I WAS IN D G 72 TO 73 BOB HOPE CAME
THERE FOR CHRISTWAS WOULD LIKE TO HERE MORE WE PUT
DOWN THE CONCRETE FOR THE RUNWAY. 1972-1974 YN1 TONY
BONNER, Ret. <tdmock@wabash.net> SERVICE = us
navy UNIT = public
works DEPT RANK/RATE/JOB
= YN1 RET JAN 1977 SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = I am a Born Liar, and Want To Tell About All
The Sex I Had on Dodge MY WARSTORY =
I WAS THE DRIVER FOR BIG "b" LIMO SERVICE (THE BUS
THAT USED TO RUN FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS
DEPT BACK TO DOWN TOWN, THIS WAS DURING AND WHILE
LIVING IN HOOTCHS. OCTOBER 1972-
OCTOBER 1973 TOM HODOLITZ
<shodie@iconn.net> MY QUEST =
RELIVE THE PARTY LIFE NATIONALITY =
US; SERVICE = USN; UNIT = HARBOR OPERATIONS
(LOGISTICAL SUPPORT COMPONENT) RANK/RATE/JOB
= BM3, LEFT THE NAVY UPON RETURN TO US, DG WAS MORE
FUN THAN I COULD STAND I GUESS MY INTEREST
IN DG IS = Want a Job as Far Away from My Wife as
Possible SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = This is a No-Shit Drinking Story MY WARSTORY =
GOING TO PARTIES ON THE BRITISH SIDE AND GETTING
DRUNK. THE BEST AND WORST WAS WHEN BM2
FOSTER FELL OUT OF THE DUECE AND A HALF AS WE SPED
DOWN WHAT I WOULD CALL THE CART PATH IN OUR
RUSH TO GET BACK TO OUR SIDE REALLY PISSED EVERYBODY
OFF 1972 TIM O'BRIEN
<timobrien@mindspring.com> Still
browsing your site and links. Takes days. Attached a
pic of my group on DG and wondered if you know of
others that were in ATCU-4. I fit into the drunken
haze group of which I'll have to supply a war story of
when I can remember. Reading the other stories helps! -Tim 1972 DANIEL ABAIED
<danseabee@aol.com> SERVICE =
Navy; UNIT = NMCB 71; RANK/RATE/JOB = Non rated puke
(BUCN) MY INTEREST
IN DG IS = My Time There is Lost in an Alcoholic Haze,
Help Me Remember! SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = There I Was, Passed Out on The Beach MY WARSTORY
= I turned 21 the week after I got there.
We worked nights and as soon as we got back to the
hut, we got drunk. The guys had me go in the hut to
get a tape, and when I came out 30 or so guys covered
me from head to toe with beer. We drank till I can not
remember, and I did pass out on the beach. We
were the second battalion there, and all that was
there was rats, crabs, a donkey, and Seabees.
"CAN DO" 1972 with
mcb#1 TONY
DEMICHELE <fuzzy334@aol.com> MY QUEST = TO
TRY AND GO BACK TO THE ROCK TO VISIT FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS VT of a
SWALLOW = ABOUT AS DEEP AS THEY CAN HANDLE NATIONALITY =
AMERICAN; SERVICE = NAVY SEABEES; UNIT =
CHARLIE COMPANY WAS A STEEL WORKER RANK/RATE/JOB
= SWCN JUST ANTHOR PUCK TO DO THE
DIRTY WORK MY WARSTORY =
WHEN SOMEONE AND IM BEING VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS I
DONT REMEMBER STOLE THE BUS AND WE WERE DRIVING AROUND
AND WERE PICKING UP PEOPLE AND THEY WERE GETTING ON
THE BUS AND WE HIT THE RUNWAY AND SOMEONE STARTED
SAYING WELCOME TO THE FRENDLY SKYS OF UNITED AIR
WAYS AND WHEN THE PILOT GETS THE OK FROM THE
TOWER WE WILL BE TAKING OFF AND THEN THE
PERSON THAT WAS ACTING AS OUR ANNOUNCER SAID
THAT IF EVERYONE WOULD BUCKLE THERE SEAT BELTS THE
POLIT WOULD START HIS TAKEOFF CHECK LIST AND THE
DRIVER STARTED RACING THE MOTOR AND WE STARTED ROLLING
DOWN THE RUNWAY AND EVERYONE ON THAT BUS STARTED TO
LEAN BACKWARDS AS WE ALL HAD THE THOUGHT OF TAKING OFF
AND EVERYONE WAS YELLING AND CHEERING AND WE ALL GOT
INTO IT SO MUCH THAT THE DRIVER ALMOST RAN OFF THE END
OF THE RUNWAY WHAT A NIGHT ILL
NEVER FORGET HOW ABOUT THE FISH THAT
IF YOU STEPPED ON YOU WOULD'NT MAKE IT OFF THE ISLAND
ALIVE THERE WAS NO ANEDOTE FOR THE
POISON WELL THERE IS A LOT OF OTHER
THINGS BUT ILL LEAVE THAT FOR SOME
OTHERS TO TALK ABOUT
GREAT SITE AND THANKS FOR THE
MEMORIES A BLAST FROM THE PAST June 1972-Feb
1973 MIKE SHROWANG
<schrowmt@nabbnet.com> MY QUEST = To
experience living on a tropical island at someone
else's expense. VT of a
SWALLOW = european or african? NATIONALITY =
true blue american; SERVICE = U.S.Navy; UNIT =
Logistic support component. I drove Garcia 2 the
yellow crash rescue truck; RANK/RATE/JOB = ABHAN.
Discharged Dec.1975. SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell MY WARSTORY =
What an amazing place except for the lack of female
companionship. But you would have to admit that it was
a beautiful place in it's own right. I worked on the
airfield as a crash truck driver and even got to go to
thailand for training on the air base. also went
to the island of Maritatius by Madagascar as air cargo
crew to get fruit and veggies for the island. i
remember sailing on the lagoon and the crash shack
guys even had a house boat that we built in the
jungle. wonder what ever happened to it. got to go to
the plantation on several occasions to clear trails
with machetes so our fire trucks could go to the other
side of the island incase a plane crashed.
not many people got to go over there much. I
made four trips to that side of the island. wonder if
anyone remembers the tree houses that were built in
various parts of the jungle. still have photos of the
plantation, somewhere. i remember when Bob Hope was
there with Red Foxx and how Mrs. Hope sang "White
Christmas". It brought a few tears to the eyes of a
few. I remember Miss Austrailia and Les Brown and his
Band of Renown playing. Got to sit in the front
row to boot!!!! I think the lady singer there was Lola
Falania (sp). I remember when the runway was being
poured and how it was done around the clock. What a
site. we had a runway sweeper that billowed out dust.
Bob Hope's c-141 was the first jet aircraft to land on
the island. I remember playing softball on the coral
ball diamond. no diving catches there!!!! The
beaches were fantastic!!! also did some snorkling and
fishing. The control tower was a trailer until the new
one was built. it was still under construction when i
left. made a lot of friends in the seabees and
had several battalions rotate in and out. i recall a
British frigate stopped by the island and we partyed
with some of the sailors from her. How bout the
wrecked pby plane on the plantation side of the
island. remember eating c-rats and checking aluminum
ball bats from special services and killing crabs by
the thousands!!! thanks much for this web site. i hope
more people write of their times there. June 1972 -
March 1973 PATRICK A.
TEDERS <pteders@noble.cioe.com> ET1 USNR-R
RET. was in MCB-62 while on DG. We were the third
battalion when it was being built. Helped put
down the runway. Got to see Bob Hope dec.
72. I don't have any fish stories We
didn't have to much free time, six ten hour days and
no fishing boats. Right now the weather on DG
sounds nice as it is supposed to get down to 6 degrees
F and snow tonight( Indiana ). But... Don't
wanna go back. 1972 KEN CASHION
<kncshn@cox.net> SERVICE =
USNR; UNIT = OIC NAVCHAPDET ZULU; RANK/RATE/JOB =
Promoted from Ensign to Ltjg in March '72 while on
DG. Took early out in December 1972.
Arrived DG on Jan 3, 1972 after departing the Navy
Cargo Handling and Port Group (NAVCHAPGRU) base at
Williamsburg, VA, on 12/27/71. Took Pan Am's 747
(Flight 1) from New York to Bangkok, then waited four
days for the next C-130 to DG from Utapao.
Probably not the strangest duty a supply officer ever
had, but I was Ensign OIC (read, I stayed out of their
way) and chaperone of 11 mostly senior Petty Officers
and one E-7 relic from WWII.
Our mission on DG was to unload all ships and aircraft
bearing cargo. Of course, my men sure weren't
overworked loading the two C-130's that arrived each
week, so our biggest task was to try to look busy
during the 11 hour work days (6 day week) the SeaBees
felt necessary toinflict on everyone. No ships
came before I left.
You have probably already heard the most remarkable
aspect of the island's Navy history, which was the
brief period when nude bathing prevailed.
Officers and enlisted men alike practiced nude
swimming and sunbathing, albeit on their respective
beaches. Naturally, this practice was frowned
upon by the island XO and CO, and nudity was banned on
the officer's beach just about the time I got a good
tan on my backside. (about 2/72)
Biggest surprise I had on DG was the day I ran into
Ltjg Scott Spradling. He and I played golf on
the same high school team back in good old OKC,
OK. (Insert sand trap analagy.)
Many island hours were spent with Bert Anzini, the Air
Operations Officer, discussing life, liberty, and
wars. He couldn't understand how a reactionary
(Ayn Rand) Republican from Oklahoma could ever be
against the Vietnam War. Bert was regular Navy, former
member of the Navy skydiving team, and I hope he is
still enjoying his wife's famous Italian cooking at
their home in Lakehurst, NJ.
I have vivid memories of phone calls to my wife,
limited to five minutes, patched through ham radio
operators, interspersed with "I love you, over!"
And I still have the official Navy message I received
on March 13, 1972, informing me that I was the father
of a one day old son (born on the 12th).
Oh the memories... do the coconut crabs still crunch
satisfyingly under the wheels of a jeep? Can you
still hear the whistle of a coconut falling from the
top of a 100 foot tall palm tree? Gorgeous
sunsets, crystal clear water, I could almost go
back... Nah!
And last but not least, is there any trace of the 20
tons of silica sandblasting sand I ordered for use in
a sand blasting machine? (I only ordered 2 tons,
but some desk driver in DC upped my order by ten,
trying to fill the cargo ship!!)
Departed DG 4/20/72 via C-130 to Utapao, then Bangkok,
then reboarded Pan Am Flight 1 and continued on to LA,
OKC, arrived in VA in time to get orders to go to
Subic. Thanks, Navy, for the round the world
trip, wish I could have seen something beyond the
airports! 1972 BOB BUDDEN
<bobbudden@alliant-energy.com>
Just wanted to say thanks for your efforts on putting
together your website. I was stationed on Diego
Garcia in 1972 with MCB-74. While I was there as
I could not wait until I got off the island. Now
I wish I could go back (for a week or so and visit the
island. It really is a beautiful place! 1972 G.
BAUERMEISTER <gdbrec@tk7.net> I visited DG
about 1972. There were only CB's and Donkeys then. I
was on the USS LaSalle (the Arabian Gulf Flagship) We
never seen the plantation side of the island. Our ship
was the biggest tourist attraction then. I
really enjoys your site. DG sure did grow since my
week long visit. 27 years ago 1972-1973 JAMES "JIM"
PEREZ <jasper@sbceo.k12.ca.us> James (Jim)
Perez, Former EO-2, NMCB-133 Det. Chagos Were you ever
on Diego Garcia? Yes, Det. Chagos, MCB-133
'72-'73
I was among the first able to land on DG by plane
C-130. We made the runway big enough to land all. We
had Bob Hope there on Christmas Day '72. I was a
disc jockey on Radio Reindeer at nite, "Big Jim the
DJ". I EOAS'd as EO-2 in Gulfport, MS. in Feb.
75. Now living back in CA on the central coast.
Amazing. DG eventually got air conditioning, women,
"Hotel" barracks. Damn luxury cruise now! But
you should have seen it then... it was a beautiful
Island... just like in the movies. I just didn't
appreciate it at the time.
Yeah, it seemed rough back then and I guess it really
was kind of hard. I remember I got wasted one nite and
fell asleep on the "porch" of my hut by the heads. It
was early morning and nobody woke me... all day!
Needless to say the sun eventually woke me and as all
I had on were a T-shirt and shorts my legs and feet
were broiled. Man, talk about PAIN! But like all of us
down there it turned to tan after about a week of
scratch and peel. I know when I went on R&R to
Thailand all the tourists wanted to know how I got so
tanned so I told them it was a secret government
project, all they had to do was join the Navy to find
out. I never realized how dark we all were till that
time, and I was one of the pale ones cause I worked
nites a lot.
What ever happened to the Sea Hut City?
Demolished I suppose. Along with the miniature golf
course and the outdoor stage and theater we built for
Bob Hope.
I used to be a disc jockey on the radio station there
too. Radio Reindeer. Is it still in operation?
We only had about 25 watts but could be heard in
Mauritius I was told.
We used to play stuff for the Russians on the Trawler
that was always just over the horizon during the day
but it was just off the reef at nite on the ocean
side. I used to go out at dawn and watch them through
my binocs. We'd wave at each other then they
would cruise over the horizon again. I think we had to
do an emergency appendectomy for one of their crewman
once, one of the first efforts at goodwill I guess.
I also used to like watching the Russian Bear do touch
and go's on the runway to check the length. We
couldn't do anything about it cause we had no
permanent aircraft there. All we could do was scramble
a fighter flight out of Utapou, Thailand and the Bear
was long gone before they could get there. Kind
of humorous looking back at it.
Did they ever get the submarine tunnel punched through
from the seaward side to the lagoon? That was one of
the rumored jobs being looked at. Another one I
worked on was building the foundation for the
BritRep's House. Had to be 110% compaction on
the base for some damn reason.
I guess I am kind of proud to have been one of the
"Early Settlers" there. It really was a
beautiful place. I just never really appreciated that
while I was there. I sometimes wish I could go
back just for a short visit. Like to see what all the
changes are... T-site, R-site, runway, so on.
I wonder... does part of the island still disappear
under water during storms, where you can be driving
along and suddenly... no road! Just water from the sea
to the lagoon! And the shit crabs! Used to cross
the road and stop in front of the trucks and throw up
their claws like they were going to grab a tire
(scrunch!). Got a lot of flats that way. Or the
tree climbing coconut crabs! Good eating but
vicious!
Well, I guess I'd better shut up for now. Bad sign
when you just keep blithering on about the past! (lol) 1972-1973 and
1973-1974 (a two time winner!) DONALD F.
KUNZ CMCS USN (Ret)
<seabees@pioneerplanet.infi.net> Sept.
72-April 73 July 73- April 74 Navy Seabee
was on Diego Garica with MNCB-10 and NMCB-62 building
the runway, also paved the road from A-CO yard to Nav
Fac. We atarted building the bowling alley, lived in
wooden huts up on the hill in the compound, by the
muse generator. [editor's note: The Senior Chief
is looking for Seabees who are interested in the Navy
Seabee Veterans of America, check out their web site,
http://www.nsva.org] |
|
