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WAR STORIES FROM PARADISE
You have traveled back to 1977! 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! |
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1977 Wm. "Skip"
Dunbar = anormalguy@sbcglobal.net Citizenship =
USA Service = USN Outfit = Charlie
site, Comms Maintenance
So as far as I
know, I’m the only sailor ever written up
for being AWOL 1,000 miles from the nearest land.
Landed there on
November 3rd 1977 . Flew out in late October 1978 My_Warstory =
Upon arriving on this little unknown Island . , My
First experience was someone emptying my Duffle Bag.
Just dumped it All on the ground. Nice place I
thought. Anyway , then
there seemed to be some confusion as to where I was
supposed to be. So they
shuffled me off to this HUT , which housed 15 others
in waiting. finally about 2
days later i was told i would be working for
A.F.R.T.S. ( Armed Forces Radio and Television
Service. ) What an Awesome duty station. I got to
watch T.V. from 5pm to Midnight. Yes I ran the shows
during this time. It was my job to run the 16mm
projectors and in the beginning it was reel to reel
players. I put up the commercials etc. It wasn't long
long though that we got VCR along with our 16mm
projectors. About a month
into this , the Commander called our station Chief and
asked if we would extend our times Longer. He said
there were more fights etc. being experienced after
our midnight shut-down than during. So I got to run TV
until 2am. IT was Frickin awesome. I got to run
the " MAIL CALL " announcements I got to watch some
good shows and quit a bit of bads ones too. It was great
when we would get flooded call Every night wanting to
see the best Sign-off spot. It was at the
time , The Girl that played ISIS. There were several
different versions. Didn't matter , they were all
good. DAMN she was
Hot. I can remember
ordering Donkey Burgers and kicking back to watch
Soap.( not soap operas ) I'd sign-out at or 2am . Then
go for walk along the Beach with my trusty Flood
light. Even tried
fishing at nite with my surf rod and some chicken
livers. ( Never caught a Damn thing) But , was a great
way to end the day. I remember
catching my Coconut Crab. I put into a large trash can
and took it to the dispensary to have formaldehyde
injected into it's joints. Yes , I had a crab. Also for awhile
, i had my own radio show on Saturday nights. It was
called Saturday Night Variety. I gave it up after only
4 weeks. I also remember
how our station manager took his pocket knife and
totally eliminated the song , " Take this job and
shove it " from being played again . LOL I also recall
asking my Station Manger , " What the Hell are PINK
Flights ?? It was a ohh OHH response from me when he
told me. I got to spend
time on the Plantation for 3 days R&R. Got to serve
MISSY beer. Got banned from
the Bowling Alley for kicking the ball return. Got to drive a
deuce and half to pick-up mail. Got second
place in the Boxing Tourny. A seabee beat me. However
, i still say to day , I WAS Robbed!! jk lol I got to
meet some very interesting people there. The Brits
were party animals. I drank to much
a couple times. Went to the
Philippines twice from there. You know how it is ,
Gotta have FEMALE friends too. All in all i
really enjoyed the place. Would love to go back one
day , just to see the changes. So , in ending
, Mike D. , Micheal O., Richard D., Steve L., all the
men from AFRTS i miss you all. Oh , are those
really Bird Sanctuaries ?? Hope ya know what i'm
talking about.lol Peace everyone.
I
was on DG in 1977-1978. In Nov 1977 I was in the
hospital and there was a USO show on that night.
When the show finished, because I was unable to go to
it, a rather nice female country singer came to visit
me whilst sitting on my bed. Does anyone know
who that singer would have been? Thanking
you. Dr.
Richmond Dutton at richmond_dutton@hotmail.com 1977-1978 Mark
Bacilek = mbacilek@gmail.com Citizenship
= USA; Service = USN Outfit
= PWD My_Quest
= A familiar name or two VT_of_a_Swallow
= 24 MPH My_Warstory
= Like everybody else, the rats as big as cats running
the rafters in the seahuts at night dropping rat poo
on you as you slept. But it was better than the Dorms.
I lived in the best hut. With Randy Hickey and Jim
Sears. Yes there was alcohol. We had a Brit named
Harry that stayed in our hut. He worked nights at the
Leisure Palms. It was a Conex box with a window cut in
the side that opened for beer sales. There was a
picnic table next to it. That was my Cheers. Olympia
by the gallon. YUK. We had a ball. Our greatest fun
was to grab a chicken roosting in a low tree at night
and throw it in the EM Club and watch all the drunks
try to catch it while it was running thru the bar and
under pool tables. A great night was being invited to
the Brit Club for a Watney's and watching the boys do
the Swing Low Sweet Chariot pantomime while singing
the song. To much! Diego Garcia is a perfect example
of a love hate relationship. I still dream of the
place and long to go back one more time. 77
- 78 Name
= Darryl Kinkey Sksa submit_by
= darrylkinley15@gmail.com United
States; USN; S-4 VT_of_a_Swallow
= DAYTON My_Warstory
= After a long flight I was happy to land. Hot as hell
12 hour days 6 to 6. Found out I didn't know shit!!
Learned alot from skc wright,sk2 rood,sh2 ridley Great
food we grilled every day drank every day worked 6
days a week, R&R 6 days Singapore. NMCB 74 1977-78 Hi
there , I wonder if you would post this for me. I
was on Diego Garcia in 1977-78. In Nov 1977 I was in
the hospital ill and there was a USO show on that
night. When the show finished , because I was unable
to go to it, a rather nice female country singer
came to visit me and played to me whilst sitting on my
bed . Does anyone know who that singer would have been
? Thanking
you Dr
Richmond Dutton I
can be reached at : richmond_dutton@hotmail.com Jan
1977 - Oct 1977 John
"Killer" Miller = jfmillerll@yahoo.com Citizenship
= USA; Service = USN; MCB 62 PW - electric shop My_Warstory
= What a time!! The sign over the Electric Shop door
said it all - "If we can't fix it - it ain't broke".
Memories - ALWAYS working on the wells in the jungle -
and the Huts - plywood,tin roof, screens. We were
right next to the UT's - Perky Parker's hut - which
was at the ocean. The Bug sprayer jeep coming thru -
grab a mask!! We built a rat trap in the Shop -
electrical of course - it just tripped the breaker. So
we used a transformer - we could smell that rat 500 ft
away the next morning (ha) Took 2 days to clear that
smell (haha). Was always getting dogged about hair
cuts - finally gave in and got a "real" hair cut - and
a shave (ha). Hadn't been without a beard - and to
this day that was my last shave (ha). And Mark Coffman
- what a guy!! (ha) Crazy at it's finest!! Lots of hot
water for showers - even at 2 a.m. The bladders on the
roof of the showers must have reached 300 degrees!
(ha) Here's a good one - we rigged the lights in the
new office upstairs of the BU shop - for a new LTJG ??
- we put the lights on a photo cell - I'm not sure he
ever found out WHY they would go on and off at random
(haha) Best guys in the world - the MCB-62 team !! 1977-78 Robert
Hermanns = hermanns@fuse.net Citizenship
= USA; Service = USN; Outfit = CBMU-302 My_Quest
= Find old friends VT_of_a_Swallow
= which species? My_Warstory
= I remember living in wooden hootches right on the
beach. Our unit was in charge of the reefer banks for
the island. So, on Saturday nights we'd go out and
catch a mess of langoustines and have steak and
lobster on Sunday afternoons. We'd have a guy coming
from Subic Bay every Saturday afternoon, so we always
had plenty of San Miguel to wash down that "surf and
turf"!! Sep
77 thru Mar 79 Name
= Alex Palmer submit_by
= ojairanchplanner@gmail.com Citizenship
= USA Other_Country
= Service
= Other Other_Service
= Seabee Outfit
= NMBC4 after PW NAVSUPFAC My_Quest
= Remember the Good Stuff VT_of_a_Swallow
= My_Warstory
= Seems like I remember some of you guys that sent in
a story. Saw NMCB 62, 74, 4, Det 133, Habu, and other
units come and go. I was with Public Works for a year
then got orders to transfer on site to NMCB4 for
another 6 months.
For a couple of months I pulled meat from the
freezer at I Site and took it to the galley. Ran a road
grader, built a rip-rip on the causeway out to the
pier, a few times loaded coral blasted out during
'tide haul'. Ran
a crane on eight ship offloads. One night
during a backload to the supply ship a bunch of us
pushed Chief Branch's brand new Weps into an empty
Seavan, then lifted it up on top of the stack. Next
morning, the stack was gone and on board the ship
headed for Hueneme.
Branch was pissed but didn't know where his
Weps went to but about 30 days later he comes in
holding a telegram and says, "my fuckin' Weps is in
Hueneme and they want to know what to do with it! Any of you
assholes know how it got there?" PRICELESS
MOMENT! Went
to Singapore and the PI for R&R, had a jeepney
driver Tony Tongol show me around and introduced me to
balut and a guy named Dave (also from Detroit) with a
'65 Mustang and a wife that owned a whore house. Had a radio
show, Diego R&R, for about a year & we rocked
it! Lots of bad nights, lots of good ones. I watched a
guy operating an MRS fully loaded with dirt coming out
of the runway and he wrapped it around the biggest
tree on the island - that was it. Broke a guys
jaw one morning over a plate of scrambled eggs -
wasn't worth it.
Sitting in my crane one morning I watched PO
Eisenlord (?) stepping from one Mike boat towards
another and missed - lost his leg. Hot mfkr
that place. Not
a lot of good times to write about, but there was a
lot good men there and I was proud to serve with them
- no shit. April
1977 - April 1978 Bob
Schuckert = bobschuckert@yahoo.com Citizenship
= USA Service
= USN Outfit
= CTT Classic Wizard Op VT_of_a_Swallow
= Fire Empire Club or street variety? My_Warstory
= Arrived very white, turned very red, stayed drunk
most of the time, left medium brown. Tried to figure
out what went through the mind of a CB (it generally
took something stronger than the island's pre pop top,
flat beer). By the time a CB started making some sense
we were too drunk to give a hoot. Did those three CBs
ever make it to Miami floating on those coolers filled
with beer? "Over!" How about "Frenchy" who worked the
gally. We believed that when he started smelling good
- it was time to leave the island. Do they still have
a $500 fine for molestation of sea turtles and
donkeys? I wonder if the Brit rep ever got his jeep
out from between the two coconut trees where we stood
it on end. Can you still trade black coral to AF
pilots for good booze? We got tired of tequila, flat
Vietnam Era Olympia pre-poptop beer, and coconut
juice. However, the crab boil on the beach and raw red
snapper with mustard sauce off of the fingerling peer
was pretty awesome. No girls on the island - not even
USO - even all the chickens were roosters. Back to the
Brit imposed fines. I can understand the sea turtle
business but how can a drunk CB catch a donkey? Oh, he
wasn't drunk. You gotta love the CO of the Rock at the
time. He had us line up and walk the main camp -
removing pieces of coral 2" or larger so he wouldn't
trip (again). Did that pool ever get built? I watched
two different groups of CBs rip up and try to rebuild
that (hole lined with cement) the previous group had
left behind. Forget the gym - plywood huts with tin
roofs (and falling coconuts)were good enough until we
finally got AC and block walled motel rooms. DG -
would'nt trade the memories for anything. By the way,
CBs rock and I'm proud to have known the few that were
allowed off the compound. And thanks for running the
MARS shack. I will always remember the rough SOB that
yelled into the mic "HE said he loves you - over."
That made the call home to the lil lady so much
better. Nov
1977 to July 1978 Bob
Paulsen = soldiercityseabee@gmail.com Citizenship
= USA; Service = USN; Outfit = NMCB-74 Bravo Company My_Quest
= To live long VT_of_a_Swallow
= who cares My_Warstory
= From the very first day a military person
stepped foot on Diego Garcia in 1970/71, all of us
that have been there from that day to present day,
whether it be one day or how ever long you stayed,
have made history and helped make history happen.
Whether we were sober or drunk the entire deployment,
we were there. that is something to be proud of. My
story begins on Nov 4, 1977 arriving on Diego Garcia
with the NMCB-74. We arrived on the 4th of Nov
actually leaving Gulfport, Ms on Halloween night. Took
4 days to get to DG. Our first stop out of Gulfport
was Anchorage, Alaska on Trans International stretch 8
aircraft. 1977 was when the airline mechanics went on
strike and when we landed in Anchorage the pilots went
on strike. 200 some guys in green fatigues stuck in
Alaska for 3 days, finally getting us out of Elmendorf
Air Force Base Alaska on C-141's. What a long cold
ride that was. If you have ever flown on C-141, you
know what I mean. Anyway,
arriving on Diego Garcia, going through British
customs, making sure we were not bringing contraband,
drugs, weapons, etc, on island. When we were done, we
loaded on to buses and headed to Camp Cummins. After
dropping us off in the open area of the trailer city,
in the camp compound, we were given the number of the
trailer in which we were to live in for the next 9
months. For the next couple of days, we were kept busy
getting oriented learning where our jobs were, AND
getting used to the hot climate was the kicker. 105
degrees in the shade year around. Burn very easy.
Three days later, Nov 7, 1977, it was lunchtime,
12noon, standing in line outside the galley for lunch,
I was looking at the menu, and all of a sudden it
dawned on me, it was my birthday. Here I am, 23 yrs
old out in the middle of the Indian Ocean doing
construction work. At that age, I was just doing my
job, but today, thinking back, that is something to be
proud of. For
the next couple of months, I was on the Electrical
crew installing electrical work for the NEW 3 story
concrete barracks, tilt-up wall construction. They
were on the back road behind Bravo Company, along MLO,
CTR area. Then we went on to put together and
electrify the Modulux buildings. They were prefab,
throw together buildings, run wires and screw the
walls in. Didn't take long at all to build one. About
two months in, I was reassigned to the Power Line
crew. I helped with runway/taxiway lighting, helping
the cable splicing crew connect all the underground
main power lines under the taxiways so the power poles
could be removed for the future extension of the
taxiway along the main road leading to the airport.
Myself and another CE were tasked to climb the poles
and dismantle them once the power was running thru the
underground lines. They were 65 foot poles with cross
arms and 4 insulators, one for each line. We had taken
down about 3 poles each. Before all that took place,
there had to be ditches dug along the road at least 6
feet deep to accommodate the power lines going in that
ditch headed toward the airport. There was a lot of
hand digging to be done, I was one of a few lucky ones
that had to hand dig. The front end loaders had tried
a few times but because the coral was so hard, the
hydraulic lines would bust. They could only scrape and
loosen the top layers. So therefore, there were many
unexcepted manhours used for this hand digging but we
got it done. We worked sun up to sundown digging the
coral. While
we were doing the taxiway lighting, we had a crew of 5
CE's. Two 2 man crews and one supervisor. His name was
CE-1, prospective Chief, Dave Perkins. While we were
working, he hollered to us that a storm was coming. At
that time, we were at the 1000' foot mark of the 4500'
runway. As we looked toward it, it was making the
island disappear and it was coming fast. Dark heavy
clouds full of rain. After scrambling to pick up loose
gear, 3 guys jumped inside the cab of the deuce and a
half and the other two, (one was me), stood in front
of the truck for protection. The storm was now over us
and the rain came down hard. Hitting our hardhats made
it sound hard as well. It lasted about 10 minutes and
continued toward camp and soaked it. The storm had
passed, and the runway and everything else was
steaming hot. It did not take long for the rain to
steam away. We were soaked. Well, nothing else we
could do except strip down except for our green
shorts. Put our shirts and socks over the truck to dry
and turned our boots upside down so the pavement would
dry them. Again, it was so hot it did not take long
for our boots to dry. About
half way through the deployment I was taken off
projects and became Bravo Company Clerk. At that time,
the Bravo Company Commander was Lt Pat Fogarty.
((Later on his career, he became Captain, and
ultimately became CO of NMCB-74 where the battalion
was in Iraq during Operation Desert Shield/Storm)).
During the remainder of the deployment I remained as
Bravo Company Clerk and I did a lot of "gopher" jobs,
which included typing evals, making coffee etc, etc.
There were only a couple of people including, Lt
Fogarty, would call me radar. That is a nickname that
DID NOT stick, thankfully. During my time as a company
clerk, I had the privledge to be able to go to other
offices that most people would not have been allowed
and one of them was the BRIT Admin building where the
BRIT Commanders office was. Fortunately for me, I had
to take some kind of hand written info to him, can't
remember what it was, and he was to respond back by
handwritten memo as well. While I was in his office, I
saw a stack of freshly printed booklets, which looked
interesting and I had asked him if I could borrow one
to read. He just looked at me, not sure how to
respond, but said yes to it. He had me sign it and
told me to bring it back because there were only so
many that were printed for certain people. I told him
I would return it. I guess signing it out was proof
enough. Well...I never did return it and I have the
privledge to have it to this day. The booklet is
called, UNDER TWO FLAGS". Apparently there is some
controversy about it and they pulled them back. Not
mine. My
duty, along with a few other people, consisted of
being in charge of the Coffee House. Some people did
QuarterDeck watch, some at the MARS Station, etc. Mine
was at the Coffee House. One night, someone came
running in and screaming that there was a hut on fire.
We all jumped up an ran out and there is this big glow
down along the beach. It burned fast. Some of us went
near it and could see what was going on. I had heard
that a few guys were sent to Alpha Company to get
water trucks. One guy came back driving a truck,
ASSUMED it was a water truck, but instead, it turned
out to be a fuel truck. Luckily they caught it in
time. That was one of many exciting times on the
island. Thinking
of other things, no women on island, 1400 men, could
sunbathe and walk around NUDE on the beaches. Our
green fatigue uniform shorts were really cut short.
Some about half way up our leg from the knee and
others, well, they were cut so short, or rolled up
short, that sometimes their business was hanging out.
But that's the way it was then. No
swimming pool, that was under construction, but was
completed and filled in April 1978, a small club to
hang out because the new one was being built. Oh and
the beer. When normal beer supplies ran out, they
brought out these two NASTY tasting beers called TIGER
AND ANCHOR. So loaded with formaldihyde and
preservatives they tasted nasty. But HEY, it was
alcohol and you could still get a good buzz if you
could stand to drink a few. The booze flowed like
water that's for sure. A
4 lane bowling alley. I had my bowling gear with me
and took advantage of that. Going
to the other side of the island for R & R, and the
beer drinking donkeys. I had heard but I had not seen
it, but rumor had it that a couple donkeys got
pregnant by horny sailors. Only rumor. Toured
the plantation site a few times and were even lucky
enough to see the couple of horse that were still
alive. This was no rumor, but fact, that one of them
was 16 hands high. That's big and looked big. Early
July, the Master Chief of the Command, M/C Harold
Beal, (RIP Nov 12, 2009) called me at the B Co office
and congratulating me on making second class. I was
now a CE-2. The
only communication we had to communicate home besides
the mail was the MARS station. That was always busy. Well,
there is so much more I could probably mention, IF I
could remember them. I may have another blog here soon
of this deployment. I
returned again to Diego Garcia, April to December 1982
with NMCB-One (McBone). I will have a blog about that
deployment soon. Thanks
for listening. I don't mind if some facts I have said
may be a little off and if someone corrects me on it
or adds to it, I don't mind. Our memories are fading.
Bob
Paulsen 77-78
Dixon
Benshoof = dixoniv@mchsi.com Citizenship
= USA; Service = USN; Outfit = NMCB 74 A Co. My_Warstory
= I remember my first night in the hut the mosquitoes
were biting so I covered with a sheet, they bit
through it. So I put on the wool blanket and they bit
through it. It was way too hot for a wool blanket, but
the bites were worse.
The next morning I went on a search for an
osculating fan so they couldn’t land on me and bite
anymore. It was so nice when they brought the modules
in with air and no bugs.
I would like to find some of the guys I was
there with. Larry May, Rick Long, Jim Gould and Dave
Meyers. FEB
77-MAR78 AND
MAR 81 TO JAN82 Name
= CHRIS MURPHY = MCMURPHY@WAVECABLE.COM Citizenship
= USA; Service = USN; Outfit = PWD AND NMCB-40 My_Warstory
= WORKED IN PWD FOR ONE YEAR AND THEN CAME BACK WITH
NMCB-40 AND WORKED ON THE BARRACKS BOQ5, BEQ 9 &
11. Nov
77 till Oct 78 Name
= Steve Egan = segan11@yahoo.com Citizenship
= USA; Service = USN; Outfit = Public Works Power
Plant My_Quest
= To see tomorrow My_Warstory
= I have a question for you T-Site guys. Was the
T-Site Radiomen Chief Jerry Whittworth, the same guy
from the Walker Spy Ring? I think he
looks the same. Dates_Aboard
= February-November 1977 Name
= Tony Treadway = byurosa@bellsouth.net Citizenship
= USA; Service = USN; Outfit = MCB 62 My_Warstory
= As a member of a Mobile Construction Battalion out
of Gulfport, Mississippi, we were sent to Diego Garcia
to help build this base. We took part in
extending the runway and building fuel storage tanks
for carriers. It was not all work, however, we
did have time to play. We played softball on a
fine shell based ground (no grass). And we also
were able to unwind at the local bar. Our living
quarters consisted of six men in a modular unit with a
number of them in a circle with the bathroom unit in
the center. We also had chickens around the
living quarters. Occasionally we would take a
truck and travel down US/DG1 to the other side of the
island and hang out, drink beer and have a picnic at
an abandoned house. Being from Florida, I was
well used to the sun. They warned us about it on
Diego Garcia. Non the less, it blistered me
within the first couple days. I was nearly sent
home. Once it started healing, I had to change
my sheets everyday because of the peeling I had done
overnight. I remember one of my friends had been
sent home because his father had passed away.
Elvis Presley died at the same time. It is a
beautiful island and wonder what it is like now.
I have met one other person who has been
there. Dates_Aboard =
1977 Name = FC
Prasse = fc@prasse.org Citizenship =
USA; Service = USAF; Outfit = 9th AREFS My_Warstory =
This was back when Carter was the President and the
Ethiopians and Eritrians were beating each other up.
Intel was that the Soviets were playing in the game so
it was decided to run the SR-71 Habu around to take a
peek (they did play in the battle of Massawa at the
end of 1977). How do you get an SR-71 from Okinawa to
East Africa? You put KC-135Q models up in the air in
the middle of the Indian Ocean. Coveniently, there was
a half-completed runway at DG. I was already deployed
and spent a couple weeks ferrying JP-7 (SR-71 fuel)
and other stuff in from Okinawa. First time in we were
heavier than poop (tons of JP-7) and since I figured
we'd need every inch of concrete to land this poop, I
planned to dump the jet on brick one and brake like
hell. So much for that plan, the good buddies building
the runway had boulders piled up on the approach end
that cost me about 300 feet of good concrete -- thanks
guys. We made it, but it was an eyeball popping stop
and the brakes were pretty toasty (no reverse thrust
on our jets). I made a not-so-kind request that the
freakin' boulders be removed within the next few
heartbeats.
I
redeployed back to California, and had 12 hours of
rest before we headed back west with two squadrons of
SR-71 tankers. We had 'em parked at DG with the noses
under the tails of the jets in front; it was probably
more big aircraft (of the Boeing 707 variety) at one
time than the rock had ever seen. We kept waiting for
Carter to give the mission go, but it never came (it
was a Presidential order mission). So, we spent a
glorious two-week plus vacation going to the beach and
drinking every ounce of warm beer on the rock (we
picked up the beer 2-3 pallets at a time). We had to
call in a C-130 from Clark AFB on a special beer
resupply run. I think the Navy and Marine folks were
happy to see us go since we stole everything they
didn't have nailed down (we were known around the
world as the "bandits") -- we acquired several trucks
and my crew had the commander's jeep.
By
the way, we had several female crew chiefs with us
(mine included) -- they were kept under armed guard at
the hospital. So there were definitely USAF women on
the rock as early as 1977 (at least for a couple
weeks). Here's a
followup by email: The
runway was not yet completed to its current length,
but we had two squadrons of KC-135Q models on the
ground at DG to support a planned Presidential order
mission to run the SR-71 around east Africa
(Ethiopians and Eritreans beating each other up). It
was a top secret mission so there was no official
public record that we were ever there (Gen Ellis,
CINCSAC, inadvertently divulged the mission
publicly a few years later – I was back flying T-38s
and had is son as a student pilot in my training
flight). At the time I was in the 9th AREFS
out of Beale AFB (AC in the KC). I was already
deployed to Okinawa on a scheduled SR-71 support
rotation and spent a couple weeks ferrying JP-7 into
Diego. Then we went back to Beale and we were on the
ground 12 hours before turning around and going back
west. It was no small feat putting a Q model on the
ground in one piece with tons of JP-7 on board, so
landing the beast was a bit dicey.
Diego had virtually no ramp space at the time so we
had the jets lined up nose under tail on the taxiway.
I think we hold the first record for the most big jets
on the ground at one time. We also brought in several
female crew chiefs, so the USAF had women on the
ground for a couple weeks as early as 1977. They
stayed in the hospital under armed guard.
The mission never went so we spent two glorious weeks
on “vacation.” We did consume every ounce of beer on
the rock (by the pallet load), and had to call in a
C-130 out of Clark AFB on a beer resupply run.
I wonder what ever happened to all the bladders of
JP-7 we left sitting on the ground when we beat feet
out of Dodge.
It think it was about 10 years later that KC-135s
began to officially show up on the rock. Back when we
first showed up on the first JP-7 ferry mission
(essentially we were proving mission feasibility), I
recall we had about 9,000’ of usable concrete – the
construction to build out the single runway had just
started. There were bulldozers and big coral boulders
all over the place and the runway had no overruns. The
approach end when landing to the northwest was a real
wreck with boulders piled up on the approach end of
the runway. I had planned to drag in the approach and
dump the mains on brick one dissipating as much
airspeed as possible on landing, but the boulders put
a kink in that plan because I had to keep the mains
above the boulders and get the tail past the boulders
before I could dump it. I was not the happiest of
campers when I pulled off the runway with my brakes
smoking – antiskid cycling all the way down the
runway. The mission was a real landing joy. We came
out of Okinawa maxed out with JP-7, landed heavy as
heck at Clark, and then took off at max weight to
Diego. It’s a wonder we managed not to bend any jets. 1977-78 Dr Richmond
Dutton = richmond_dutton@hotmail.com Service =
British Joint Services My_Quest =
finding anyone who rembers the Joint Services
expedition personnel 1977-78
I
was in DG off & on during 1977-78 . I was a
botanist / herpetologist with the British Joint
Sevices Chagos Archipelago Expedition. We were mostly
living out on the islands Peros Bahnos in particular
but often came into BG in our yacht the Paille en
Queue skipperd by the late Peter Winch. However out of
the 18 of us I spent the longest in DG in the
marvellous little hospital . Would like to thank the
doc in charge but dont know his name ... but then he
never told me what was actually wrong with either..
they brought me in from Peros thinking I had
meningitis which caused a scene of panic on DG ..
reminiscent of the bit in ET where the medics examine
him at the house ! I remember a yound twit of an
Ensign who tried to stop me going into the enlisted
mens mess on the grounds that I was not wearing socks
and looked like a 'sack of shit' . OK I was a little
scruffy but then I had arrived in DG with no clothes
and only had the hospital PJs to wear til a Master Sgt
in the Seabees gave me a set of Seabee jungle greens
and anti spike jungle boots ! I think I still have
them somewhere ! I also remember a guy who was a keen
bass fisherman who called himself Sgt Rock .. buy I
dont imagine that was hid real name. One thing really
sticks out and that was when I was in hospital which
was maybe Nov 1977 , there was a USO show .. and a
female country singer came to my bedside and sang to
me for half an hour cos I could not get to the show.
Does anyone recall who that singer was ? Anyhow thats
all for now.. though I may have a record here in that
I am probably the only Brit who has been to DG and had
a brother serving there too . I have some pics too of
that period if any one is interested. 1977 Charles
Roll = boxcar84our@gmail.com Citizenship
= USA; Service = USN; Outfit = NMCB62 VT_of_a_Swallow
= long as she can take it all the way My_Warstory
= Diego Gracia in 1977 with MNCB 62... after having a
long jamming day of drinking MOJO I went back to the
seahut(I don`t remember even that part) I passed out
in my bed only to wake up about 4 am. Not knowing
anything at the moment I realised there was something
on my chest. It was still pich dark except for the
moonlight. As my eyes focused and started to get my
bearings about myself I found out that this weight on
me was the biggest freaking rat and its head was right
there at my dong! I grabed it and just threw it
towards my feet but it sailed to the other side where
there was a fellow seabee sleeping as well. The rat
landed right on him,which woke him and he screamed and
threw it off of him. The nights came on very quick
and got everyone awke chasing that rat. Needless
to say the rat got away but the next night the guy who
I threw the rat on had rat traps all the way around
his bed.LOL sleep tight my friend! 77-78 Name
= Bill Blackwell submit_by
= billb32780@yahoo.com Other_Country
= white boy Service
= Seabees Outfit
= NMCB-40 A Co. My_Quest
= Looking for my buds VT_of_a_Swallow
= whatever you want My_Warstory
= O.K. don't everyone get pissed at me.Just
wanted to know who remembers the killdozer on Guam
'77? FTN
40 1977-1978 Samuel Wilcox
Sr samuel.wilcox@gmail.com Citizenship =
USA Service = USN Outfit = SATCOM
Receiver Area My_Quest = Huh? I was there
from 1977 - 1978....SATCOM on the receiver site.
Thanks for putting that site together, it really
brings back some memories and the photos are the best
I've ever seen. I have a few as well.
Thanks again! My_Warstory =
Awesome time. We completely rebuilt the Satcom
building using materials "borrowed" from our Sea Bee
brothers...LMAO.......Had one USO show and the women
slept in the infirmary.....LOL.....R&R in
Singapore (no uniforms allowed) and a riot going in
and out through Clark in the PI......lived in a "sea
hut" for half the time I was there then the
barracks....I laugh my ass off when I hear people
whining about how bad their barracks
is....LOL.....great site, I'd love to get in touch
with anyone who was there at the time I was. Sam Wilcox Sr ET USN 1975 - 1984
1977-78,
1984, 2008
Roger
Hanthorn [roger-tess@hanthorn.com] I
was stationed in Diego From April 77 To April 78. I
was an RM2 and worked in Tech Control at R-Site. I
Spent 4 months moored in the the lagoon on the USS
Proteus May to Aug 1984. I retired in 1990 and worked
for the State of Oregon for 18 years. This job
opportunity came up about 8 months ago. I applied and
got the job. When I got my clearance back in Feb 08 my
boss calls me and says "Pack you bags your going to
Diego Garcia." So here I am again back in paradise. Be
careful what you say you might just get it. Lots more
buildings now and communications with home are easier
and being a civilian helps but it is still the same
place. I liked it when I was stationed here and in
1984 when I was here. It is 2008 and I still like the
place. Some things never change.
Roger
A Hanthorn
DYN-Marine
Services
Squadron
Communicator Compsron
Two
1977 Navchapgru
NAME = craig
hall
MY QUEST = I
have pictures
VT of a SWALLOW
= not sure
E-MAIL =
craig@craigandrebekah.com
NATIONALITY =
us
SERVICE = usn UNIT =
navchapgru
RANK/RATE/JOB =
sw3 out of it
MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane SUBJECT OF MY STORY: =
Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell MY WARSTORY =
was there for just a while to off load a ship so you
could have stuff to work with. Please check out
my pictures at: www.craigandrebekah.com
1977-1978 Keith Millett
<keithmillett@kcmtruck.com> My name is
Keith Millett & I would like to consider myself
part of the DG Alumni. I was there with NMCB 74
in 77/78 I think, I can tell you that when I arrived
there we slept in Sea Huts & when I left we were
in air conditioned mods.
Unfortunately
I have cooked to many brain cells over the years to
accurately create a timeline of certain parts of my
life, i.e. 1976 thru 1982.
I
have been able to find a couple of the guys from my
battalion, but would like to find more. We spent a lot
of time together in Okinawa, Phillipines & Diego
Garcia as a GREAT finale. Please contact me if
you think you could be of any help.
Thanx, Keith 1977-1978;
1976-1977
The Rick
<therick74dg@yahoo.com> " DAMN! THAT
PLACE!!! " I did two tours
there back to back, 9mo. each! First with a
detachment NMCB 74, then with the main body.
1976 - 1977 then AGAIN! 1977 - 1978 Yeah, im sure a
lot of people liked it there post circa 1980.
After most accomodations were already built. WITH AIR
CONDITIONING!!! Not to mention A POOL! as in
so-called paradise. But for those pre-post
years, we lived in swelltering HEAT! HOT HEAT! and
HUMIDITY! in Seahuts. Nothing but sheet metal
banging away on 2X4's and plywood all night. And
that was when there was a breeze. When there was
no breeze or wind, it was worse!
The
buzzing of mosquitoes and, bites, we woke up
scratching all day LONG! Those DAMN mosquitoes
had landing lights. And you call that
paradise? Ask those who had to stand watch,
ESPECIALLY THE ARMORY! You had to wear long
sleeve shirts buttoned all thew way to the neck just
to make the bites less, even at NIGHT! WITH HUMID
HEAT!
For
us/them, I don't think it was such a nice place, even
to just visit!!!!
I
want to be DIEGO BURGER, KING! WITH ARCH PALM
TREES... if it still exist? If not REBUILD! and open
all night! with donkey walk thru.
I
was also THE RASIN JACK KING! made it by the 10 gal.
loads. Had people saving their empty BOONES FARM
bottles to pour it in. Because when the supply
ship came in, half the alcohol was gone already! And
YES! I gave it away for free!
Diego,
is that place still under the same management? HELL YEAH! I
GOT A LOT OF WAR STORIES! " DAMN! THAT
PLACE!!! " 1977-1978 NAME = Brian D
Clouse
MY QUEST = Hear
from old friends
VT of a SWALLOW
= Let's see. the terminal velocity of a Bald Eagle
is........................... E-MAIL =
bk112479@aol.com
NATIONALITY =
USA
SERVICE = USN
UNIT = Diving
Locker
RANK/RATE/JOB =
EN2/DV2. Left the Nav after 5yrs. Finishing up a
career as a Supervisor for the City of Spokane, Wa.
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 =
Jim Grainger, Pete Holden and I lost a 21' Boston
Whaler with 3 sets of scuba tanks, two tanks of fuel,
and the key hanging in the ignition. We had anchored
it just off one the islands at the mouth of the
lagoon, while we were on the island, the tide came in
and "popped" the anchor loose. By the time we came
back to where we had anchored it, it was a quarter
mile out to sea. Pete and I dove in and started
swimming after it, but it was an out-going tide and
all we were doing was swimming ourselves out to sea
with no chance of catching the boat. We came to our
senses and turned back, by that time we were closer to
the other island than the one we had started from, but
we were now swimming against the tide. By the Grace of
God, (and being Navy Divers) we were able to make it
to the other island without drowning or being eaten
alive. They finally sent the Mike boats after us just
before dark, and the rescue was made. The Whaler made
it all the way to Australia and was found off the
Australian coast by a fisherman, he got into it,
started it up, and drove it home,- he sent the Navy a
note of thanks!!
Jan 1977-Jan
1978
NAME = Was Tom
Glancy (before entering the witness protection
program) MY QUEST = To
find other charter members of the "Chicken Chokin
Club" VT of a SWALLOW
= Far as I know its still the same...The fewer, the
higher.... E-MAIL =
Tom_Glancy@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY =
Irish American
SERVICE = USN
UNIT = Navy
Exchange Office NFCU REP Sold AMEX Travelers checks RANK/RATE/JOB =
Participated in the Grand opening of the Diego Burger
Joint and worked for Special Services P/T Helped fill
the time and made some xtra dough in the process. MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = Geo-political Rabble Rousing SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = I am a Born Liar, and Want To Tell About All
The Sex I Had on Dodge MY WARSTORY
= Hi Ted and thanks for keeping up the site for
all these years. The first time I visited I was
driving a 386 with 3.1 under the hood. How times have
changed. Looks like things have changed in Dodge as
well, I guess it was an eventuality. Havn't
gotten around to pah-roosin the pics yet and have to
admit that a part of me is afraid to do so. I'd
kinda like to remember it as it was however my
curiousity will get the best of me before I travel
back through the ether to somewhere in Oklahoma. Lord
knows how I ended up here and its quite a
disapointment at times when I whip out my official
looking ID which identifies me as the Minister of
Chickin-Chokin DEMREPDG. No bands play, and not a
single vested virgin throws one rose petal ahead of me
or in my wake. So once again I find myself retreating
through the ether to my past where I can at least be a
legend in my own mind. It was only recently that
I had the revelation that not one time in my fifty odd
years have I heard the words uttered..."Hey! Lets move
to Oklahoma! Maybe I'll look into one of
the jobs you have mentioned here or return to reclaim
my rightful place in the Ministry of the
PROPEOPDEMREPDG. And to all who
have served, are serving or will serve. If
nobody has told you lately, Thank you.
1977-1978 NAME = Thom
Rasine
MY QUEST = To
find some very good frinds VT of a SWALLOW
= who cares
E-MAIL =
thomrmcb74@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY =
American
SERVICE =
NMCB74
UNIT = "A" co.
RANK/RATE/JOB =
EO3
MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell MY WARSTORY =
There are so many stories that could be told. i went
over on the advance party and came back on the delayed
party. What was i nuts. No just short and didnt want
to sit around Mississippi for a couple of months. Any
way i remember filling the water tankers that were
used for dust control on the haul roads. we would be
swimming in the tankers as they were being filled.
looking back it was refreshing but a little un safe.
but what the hell we were in-destructible.we worked
our ass off all day and some of us at nite. had a
great time on that island of beautiful white beaches
and better sun sets. i was in that last sea hut before
it was burned down. now that was a party, but so was
every pay day and weekend. miss all the friends that
were there. and the ones that we said we will always
stay in touch. hey life goes on. any one feel that the
culture shock was not going to the rock but coming
back to reallity and wearing clothes. and not acting
like a animal. boy it was like neverland. all the 1st
classes and cheifs were drunk and not realy give a
shit. sure would like to here from some of you guys. july77-nov77 NAME = kevin
MY QUEST = to
live by the ocean
VT of a SWALLOW
= 88mph
E-MAIL = later
NATIONALITY =
irishgermanamerican
SERVICE = usn
UNIT = alpha co
tire shop
RANK/RATE/JOB =
then ce3 now LIFGR
MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = Other
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = This is a No-Shit Snorkeling Story MY
WARSTORY = john z and I took a duece and a half to the
donkey gate. if you turn right there, there was
a truck trail down to oceanside. we got down ok parked
it. couple hours snorkeling and few bottles annie
green springs later we discovered the tide had been
coming in, and fast.
water was
washing around the base of the tires causing the truck
to sink some. we sobered real quick. alot of jockeying
the truck back and forth (that shit was worse than
snow) throwing rocks and wood and whatever we finally
got it back up on dry land. the whole time thinking
about the poor SOB that did the same stupid thing
beach side with a weps carrier. that one had to be
pulled by alpha co if I remember right. we were
not supposed to be down there anyhow. Fegly would
have had our ass. that old duece probably had to go to
the heavy shop after that for tranny work. never did
tell anyone in alpha co. my boss was EO1 jackson. he
was good people. i got lot of b/w photos of the old
plantation, the graveyard,the flightline with the
141,s. we used to use det cord packed with grease to
blow the tire bead off the rim of those big earth
movers. did any of you guys do the guam dpylmt in 78?
1977 NAME = Barton
Pepper
MY QUEST = To
go back to DG as a space-a VT of a SWALLOW
= 24psi
E-MAIL = Not
this time
NATIONALITY =
USA
SERVICE = Navy
UNIT = Chaplain
with NMCB 62
RANK/RATE/JOB =
Retired from Navy in 1982, from church work in 1997 MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell MY WARSTORY = I
did a lot of fishing in my spare time. Commodore
Weiss was an avid fisherman and caught a 17-lb redfish
(or sea bass or the like) and wanted me to cook it for
him. I had it all planned, even down to making
hot German potato salad. The chief at the
Officers' Club cooked it in aluminum foil and it was
mush when he got through with it.
The
Commodore taught me how to make weights for your
fishing line out of some rocks on the beach that had
washed back and forth until they had holes in them,
thus saving you from having to buy weights at the Navy
Exchange (if they had any). I kept all the fish
I caught, no matter how small, fileted them and cooked
them in hot oil. He told me to throw the small
ones back, but after I gave him some of my fried fish,
fried with a beer batter, he never said another word.
I
worked part-time with the Alcohol Rehab Center on DG
as my chaplain's assistant was in charge of the
center. I went out in the small boat on one of
the few days that it was calm enough to take it out,
and we caught four or five grouper and we took them
back to the Rehab Center and cooked them for our
dinner.
I
enjoyed working with the men of my battalion and the
island personnel. I gave emergency messages to a
lot of guys and tried to help them to get home if it
was called for. I saw one guy back in Gulfport
who I had helped to get back, and he said, "I really
put one over on you, Chaplain!" No skin off my
nose, I said. I would rather err on the generous
side than to turn down someone who had a bad situation
back home. Good luck to all SeaBees!
1977 and 1980
NAME = Rick
Baptista
MY QUEST = Who
Knows
VT of a SWALLOW
= Who Knows
E-MAIL =
r.baptista@comcast.net
NATIONALITY =
White
SERVICE =
NMCB-40
UNIT = Pipe
rat; Crane crew; Batch Plant RANK/RATE/JOB =
EO3 to EOC
MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = This is a No-Shit Drinking Story MY WARSTORY =
What can I say! I stole the truck loaded with Alpha
Company, crashed the donkey gate and chased them
fucking brits down the road. To bad Barto got
caught. Sure was a long walk from the plantation
to t-Site. If it wasn't for the human chain at the
donkey gate the rest of us would'nt have got
caught. Well there you GO LT. Rock now you
know. Well he always knew but just couldn't
prove it. If Bll the Head didn;t hit that Brit
with his sneaker they might have let us go. Well thats
one story of many I can tell. Was a fun place
and did alot of drinking. Having the shits
during Shipoff load cause of bad Turkey Ala
King. Looking for Bad Bart; Dan Hosher; Ron Ried
etc. Hey Dog Face I thought that was in
Newfoundland I broke your back. Anyway I should
be getting half that check. For all that recall
this story send me an e-mail
From:
"JOE PRANAITIS" <thegardner@charter.net> To:
easy501@zianet.com
Date: 22
Nov 2006, 07:36:30 PM
Subject:
diego garcia
I
was with a Seabee detachment from n m c b 40. I was
stationed there Jan 1977-Sept 1977. I thought that it
was a beautiful island. our mission was the blasting
crew. tide haul crew and rockcrusher crew. During low
tide we would drill holes in the coral and pack the
holes with dynamite, at high tide we would blast, then
again at low tide we would move the blasted coral to
the rock crusher where we would make different size
aggregate for the concrete witch was used to extend
the runway. When I was there in 77 there was no air
conditioning, but I was 19 years old so it was no big
deal. We slept in 13 man hootches. I am glad that I
went there it is an experience that it will never
forget. I sure would like to go back there and check
it out and see how much it has changed. Do you know of
anyway to get there on a trip?
FEB-NOV 1977
NAME = JIM
SCHOELEN
MY QUEST = TO
FIND THE S.O.B. THAT GAVE ME THE NAME "PUMPKINHEAD"! VT of a SWALLOW
= W.T.F.?
E-MAIL =
seabee.hammer@hotmail.com
NATIONALITY =
AMERICAN BY BIRTH, OKLAHOMAN BY CHOICE. SERVICE = U.S.
NAVY
UNIT = NMCB 62
DELTA CO.
RANK/RATE/JOB =
THEN-BUCN
NOW-BU1 NMCB 22
(1993-PRESENT) CURRENTLY OIF 04-06 AL QAIM, IRAQ 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 = JUST A KID REALLY WHEN I LANDED, NAIVE AS
HELL. SAT DOWN AT THE ONLY EMPTY SEAT IN THE OLD CHOW
HALL DURING ONE OF THE FIRST BREAKFASTS ON DG. MEET
THREE GUYS FROM THE N.E., KENNY KAER, JOE MARTIN AND
SID GATLIN. SPENT MANY NIGHTS ON THE ROCK PARTYING IN
THEIR HOOCH BEACUSE THEY HAD ONE OF THE AICONDITIONED
CANS INSTEAD OF A SEAHUT. MY HUT WAS ABOUT 30 YARDS
FROM THE OCEANSIDE BEACH AND WENT TO SLEEP LISTENING
TO THE WAVES.
POURED CONCRETE
MOSTLY WHILE THERE... FUEL STORAGE FARM TANK
FOUNDATIONS, RUNWAY APRONS AND BLASTPAD AND WATER
TREATMENT PLANT. WORKED ON THE
CONCRETE PUMP TRUCK WITH BU2 PAUL EVANS, WHO HAD THIS
THING ABOUT FISHBOWLS AND GOLDEN SHOWERS!
HELPED UNLOAD
TWO SUPPLY SHIPS THAT HAD TO ANCHOR IN THE LAGOON AND
UNLOAD ONTO BARGES. WE WATCHED THE CREWS 8MM PORNO ON
THE FANTAIL WHILE WE WAITED FOR THE BARGES TO RETURN.
THE DRIVE BELT BROKE ONE NIGHT RIGHT BEFORE THE MONEY
SHOT AND IN THE TRUE SEABEE CAN DO WITH NOTHING
TRADITION, WE FIXED THE PROJECTOR WITH A BLOUSING
STRAP. WORKED LIKE A CHARM. ALSO REMEMBER
THE MORNING WE WERE LOADING UP ON THE DUECE AND HALF
TO GO TO WORK AND MIKEY POLLARD RIPPED A MORNING AFTER
WHITE RUSSIAN NIGHT AT THE EM CLUB FART AND CLEARED
THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. PEOPLE WERE
DIVING HEAD FIRST INTO THE SAND TO GET THE HELL OUT OF
THERE BECAUSE THE CANVAS COVER WAS ON AND THE FRONT
FLAP WAS DOWN TOO! JOE ELBERT WILL TESTIFY TO THE
CAUSTIC ODOR OF THAT GAS! I REGRET THAT I
DID NOT GET MUCH MEMORABILIA FROM DIEGO GARCIA. ALWAYS
ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SOME... LET ME KNOW WHERE THE STUFF
IS OK?
1977 NAME = Britt
Snodgrass
MY QUEST = Just
checking in
VT of a SWALLOW
= D0esn't matter after the first six pack E-MAIL =
snodgrass@ltex.net
NATIONALITY =
Texican
SERVICE = Navy
UNIT = NMCB 62
RANK/RATE/JOB =
BU-3 for most of my 5 year carreer MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = Geo-political Rabble Rousing SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = This is a No-Shit Sailing Story MY WARSTORY = I
was on the last boat unloading the cargo ship so we
had to follow it out to sea to pick up the harbor
pilot. I was chosen to hold the jacobs ladder for the
pilot as he came down. We were near the stern of the
ship. I looked down from my precarious position on the
edge of the boat to see the enormous propeller going
round and round chopping up the water, the little flat
bottom boat was lerching up and down in open water and
I was about to shit myself getting this guy down
without going over the side. It was then that I knew I
had made the right choice to stay on dry land for my
Naval career. Anyone else get a raging (non-alcohol)
head-ache from unloading the dynamite?
FEB-NOV 1977
NAME = JIM
SCHOELEN
MY QUEST = TO
FIND THE S.O.B. THAT GAVE ME THE NAME "PUMPKINHEAD"! VT of a SWALLOW
= W.T.F.?
E-MAIL =
seabeehammer@hotmail.com
NATIONALITY =
AMERICAN BY BIRTH, OKLAHOMAN BY CHOICE. SERVICE = U.S.
NAVY
UNIT = NMCB 62
DELTA CO.
RANK/RATE/JOB =
THEN-BUCN
NOW-BU1 NMCB 22
(1993-PRESENT) CURRENTLY OIF 04-06 AL QAIM, IRAQ 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 =
JUST A KID REALLY WHEN I LANDED, NAIVE AS HELL. SAT
DOWN AT THE ONLY EMPTY SEAT IN THE OLD CHOW HALL
DURING ONE OF THE FIRST BREAKFASTS ON DG. MEET
THREE GUYS FROM THE N.E., KENNY KAER, JOE MARTIN AND
SID GATLIN. SPENT MANY NIGHTS ON THE ROCK PARTYING IN
THEIR HOOCH BEACUSE THEY HAD ONE OF THE AICONDITIONED
CANS INSTEAD OF A SEAHUT. MY HUT WAS ABOUT 30 YARDS
FROM THE OCEANSIDE BEACH AND WENT TO SLEEP LISTENING
TO THE WAVES. POURED CONCRETE MOSTLY WHILE THERE...
FUEL STORAGE FARM TANK FOUNDATIONS, RUNWAY APRONS AND
BLASTPAD AND WATER TREATMENT PLANT. WORKED ON THE
CONCRETE PUMP TRUCK WITH BU2 PAUL EVANS, WHO HAD THIS
THING ABOUT FISHBOWLS AND GOLDEN SHOWERS!
HELPED
UNLOAD TWO SUPPLY SHIPS THAT HAD TO ANCHOR IN THE
LAGOON AND UNLOAD ONTO BARGES. WE WATCHED THE CREWS
8MM PORNO ON THE FANTAIL WHILE WE WAITED FOR THE
BARGES TO RETURN. THE DRIVE BELT BROKE ONE NIGHT RIGHT
BEFORE THE MONEY SHOT AND IN THE TRUE SEABEE CAN DO
WITH NOTHING TRADITION, WE FIXED THE PROJECTOR WITH A
BLOUSING STRAP. WORKED LIKE A CHARM. ALSO REMEMBER THE
MORNING WE WERE LOADING UP ON THE DUECE AND HALF TO GO
TO WORK AND MIKEY POLLARD RIPPED A MORNING AFTER WHITE
RUSSIAN NIGHT AT THE EM CLUB FART AND CLEARED THE BACK
OF THE TRUCK. PEOPLE WERE DIVING HEAD FIRST INTO
THE SAND TO GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE BECAUSE THE
CANVAS COVER WAS ON AND THE FRONT FLAP WAS DOWN TOO!
JOE ELBERT WILL TESTIFY TO THE CAUSTIC ODOR OF THAT
GAS!
I
REGRET THAT I DID NOT GET MUCH MEMORABILIA FROM DIEGO
GARCIA. ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SOME... LET ME KNOW
WHERE THE STUFF IS OK?
1977 - 1978
NAME = James
Ash
E-MAIL =
zbz55@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY =
US
SERVICE = Navy
UNIT =
Communications - Receiver Site RANK/RATE/JOB =
RM2
MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = Please Select The Category That Best Discribes
Your Interest in Diego Garcia
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = Please Select a Title For Your Story, or
Select 'Other' MY WARSTORY =
Anyone still around from the Receiver Site in
1977-78... Resendez, Pullen, Mayo, Brubaker, Ketcham,
Bohannon... ??
June 1977 to
June 1978
NAME = John
Danforth
MY QUEST = Seek
Old Friends
VT of a SWALLOW
=
E-MAIL =
ddanforth@cox.net NATIONALITY =
United States
SERVICE = US
Navy
UNIT =
NavCommSta
RANK/RATE/JOB =
RMSN
MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell MY WARSTORY =
One nice sunny tropical day while driving form a small
motor boat in the lagoon, I brought a peice of coral
in the boat. A small sea snake came slithering out.
The other ship mate I was with, Michael Wright almost
had a coronary. We still had a good time and would
have many more memnories of the rock to tell. I was a
young man in those days. There were no women on the
island. Just 300 CommSta sailors and 1200 CB's who
were basic animals. Never the less, I still made many
friends with them.
77 NAME = Kevin
Brown
MY QUEST =
Looking for friends
VT of a SWALLOW
= I'm not hip to your lingo E-MAIL =
ciythog@verizon.net
NATIONALITY =
US citizen
SERVICE = USN
UNIT = Worked
in the paint &body shop with Alpha Co. NMCB-74 RANK/RATE/JOB =
CM3-I'm still in and getting ready to deploy to Kuwait
in January 06 MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell MY WARSTORY =
After arriving on Diego alot of us stayed up and drank
alot of Oly and San Miguel before we were to report
for quarters the next day. I guess some of my
fellow seabees were late for quarters because we got a
royal chewing out by Chief Clark. I'll attempt
to paraphrase his rant " ...just because we're on an
isolated island in the middle of nowhere there will be
no excuses for missing muster." He then
immediately barfed all over his boots. I guess
he must have had a few the night before, but by golly
he hadn't been late for quarters. Another time
one of the seahuts caught fire and there was a big
hubbub about it. My friend and I, Koz he was
called, had had a few drinks and were feeling no
pain. We wandered outside of our module (#9 I
think) and decided to go over and watch the
fire. When got there we were apprehended by the
MAA and taken to the brig. Inside of the brig
was what appeared to be a dog cage about 5ft. square
and about 4ft. high. They put us in there with
no explanation and went back out. My buzz was
gone by now and I was really mad. When they
returned later MA1 Stroud told us that someone had
fingered us for setting the seahut on fire. For
some reason he now figured we hadn't and was letting
us go free. It was nice to be out of the cage
and free and all but it just wasn't enough after all
the crap we just went through. As I was
pondering what I could do to get revenge, Koz walked
over to the MAA's jeep, reached in, and pulled the key
out of the ignition. I was thinking maybe he was
going to steal the jeep but to my pleasant surprise he
threw the keys as far into the jungle as he
could. We then walked away with a satisfing
feeling of sweet revenge.
feb77 to oct77
NAME = mark
coffman
MY QUEST = to
win the lotto
VT of a SWALLOW
= what ever
E-MAIL =
markcoffman@peoplepc.com
NATIONALITY =
american
SERVICE = usn
UNIT = nmcb62
mars operator
RANK/RATE/JOB =
ce3 made e4 right before my 4 years were up. 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
= BEFORE I ENDED UP IN DIEGO I WAS
IN PUPLIC WORKS ROTA SPAIN.MUST OF PISSED SOMEONE OFF
BIG TIME.. ANYWAY BEFORE DEPLOYMENT I
VOLUNTEERED TO BE A MARS OPERATER.THATS WAS MY ONLY
JOB THERE. IT WAS ME AND SOME PILIPPINO GUY .? IT WAS
A TIT JOB FOR SURE.THE STATION WAS EVEN AIR
CONDITIONED. HAD WAY TOO MUCH FREE TIME.PLAYED LOTS OF
RAQUETBALL.PLAYED THE SKIPPER [CDR.FEGLEY]AND
WON.
MY ENLISTMENT WAS UP A MONTH BEFORE 62 CAME BACK TO
THE WORLD. WAS NOT INTERESTED IN REENLISTING...WENT
BACK TO MY HOME IN MAINE.WORKED IN A SHIPYARD [BATH
IRON WORKS] AS A CONSTUCTION ELECTRITION FOR OVER 10
YEARS.GOT TIRED OF THAT AND THE COLD ...MOVED TO
SOUTHWEST FLA. IN 1992.... NOW IAM A MAIL CARRIER FOR
OVER 5 YEARS. THE WEATHERS GREAT [EXCEPT FOR HURICANE
CHALEY]. RIDE MY HALEY YEAR ROUND SAME ONE FOR 22
YEARS MORE THAN BOTH X
WIFES...
HAVE
2 ISSUES OF THE SEABEACON HOMEPORT AND THE MEN OF
ALFA. SOME PHOTOS .WOULD LIKE TO HERE FROM ANYONE
ESPECIALLY FROM PUPLIC WORKS ROTA.
1977-1978 NAME = ED
HOLLAND
MY QUEST = to
see if i can find any of the old timers I worked and
partied with. VT of a SWALLOW
= no idea
E-MAIL =
wdgtrplyr@aol.com
SERVICE = U.S.
NAVY SEABEES
UNIT = " A "
CO. cement crew / mixers / hauled bulk cement to
the jr batch plants
RANK/RATE/JOB
= EOCN I had all my #$%@ together to make 3rd
class but the good old nav. had just started a wieght
program and I was 8 lbs over for my hieght and they
wouldn't let me pin it on.A couple of months later
they decided they were overmanned in my rate EO they
started offering early outs. I signed UP FOR MINE. and
suddenly, i;m not only short to get off the rock and
go home to my wife linda, but iwas short in the nav.
too. I did like most of us did when Igot short I got
that bottle of seagrams 7 drank it and tied that "
SHORT TIMERS RIBBON" on my hard hat. hell i wasnt
short any more , i was next. we were back in gulfport
the 10th of july 78 I had 10 days to "MUSTER AND
MAKE IT" and was headed home to calif. MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = Want to Return When the First REAL Club Med
Opens SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = This is a No-Shit Drinking Story
Feb.'77 to
Sept.'77 as part of NMCB62. NAME = Ken
Cavanaugh
E-MAIL =
kencav44@yahoo.com
SERVICE =
NMCB62.
UNIT =
RANK/RATE/JOB = Steel worker; fab. re-bar,tanks on
cosway, steel swimming pool MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = Irritated World Citizen/Communist/Religious
Extremist SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell MY WARSTORY = I
can't believe no one has pass on the story of the
returning advanced party from Diego. The airline
running the strech8 claimed someone from a small group
of 200+ said there was a bomb on the plane when we
arrived in anchorage Alaska.
Oh yeah the
airline people were on strike. So volunteers came
forward to admit there transgressions the steward,
yeah he was a short fat guy, could not pick out the
culprits.
What happened
next was genius
200+ Seabees
lined the condors of anchorage international air port
in utilities and placed all the cash they had between
their booted feet International passengers walked by
Japs mostly and actually attempted to pick up the
loose cash a few even asked if we were at war Airport
security ran around screaming pick up the money
Fuck you was
the basic reply
Finial the
Alaskan State police arrived Investigation
and integration the airline then sent us downtown to a
hotel and that where the spider monkey bar was the
monkies were freed by some of us and are welcome at
the bar was terminated
1977 - 1978
NAME = Allen
Porter
MY QUEST =
Looking for roomates in public works dorm. VT of a SWALLOW
=
E-MAIL =
karpmed@hotmail.com
NATIONALITY =
american
SERVICE = Navy
UNIT = antenna
maintenance-public works RANK/RATE/JOB =
HTFN
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 =
Does anyone remember Christmas Eve.1977 in a public
works dorm? We were all
standing in a circle passing fifth of booze, talking
about our families stateside. When everyone woke up
the next morning we all
discovered none of us had made it to our rooms.
We were all still in the living room where we had been
the night before. And remember
rhe crazy coconut crab catching craze?? That was me!!! Can write to me
at:
PO Box 215 Medford,
OR 97501
Jan. 1977 until
Nov. 1977
NAME = Joe
Burton
MY QUEST =
Hoping to hear from some old pals. VT of a SWALLOW
= As long as you're swallowing booze, who cares about
the terminal velocity?
E-MAIL =
Joethemusicguy511@yahoo.com NATIONALITY =
American
SERVICE = USN
UNIT = NMCB 62
The "E" battalion in 1977 RANK/RATE/JOB =
BUCN got out after 4 yrs. 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 in the Club MY WARSTORY = I
was one of the lucky (?) ones who resided in the 4-man
trailers. They had air conditioners but the
condensation was so bad we had puddles in the floors
most of the time. We named our hut "The
Wondercave." Roommates Gordon Boswell (a rich
kid who wanted to be a Seabee), Al Frank, who was
infatuated with his biceps (good right cross, by the
way) and Smitty the "town drunk." Other
friends-Ricky Dean Campala, Buffalo Bob Mayes, and
several more I can't remember after all these
years. I think it would be safe to say that none
of us drew a completely sober breath during the entire
tour at DG. Besides, I worked at night at the EM
club on the beach (the old prefab building we used
before the real one was built). I think it was
called "The Combined Rates Club" or something like
that. It even had a stage where Shep and the
guys jammed on the weekends. Anyone remember
them? They always closed with "Free Bird."
Not bad, either. I can't remember the name of
the group, though. The White Tide??? If
any of you know me please write. I have only one
picture from DG and it is from one of our many drunken
picnics. I still have dreams about that
place. I would like to visit sometime,
though. Knowing I wouldn't be there month after
month eating coconuts. However, what about the
great prices for the booze? You'll NEVER find
Chivas Regal and Crown Royal that cheap again!
Aug 77 - Aug 78
NAME = Sam
Wilcox
MY QUEST = find
others who were there with me VT of a SWALLOW
= infinite
E-MAIL =
sam.wilcox@verizon.net
NATIONALITY =
USA
SERVICE = Navy
UNIT = SATCOMM
RANK/RATE/JOB =
ET2
MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = My Time There is Lost in an Alcoholic Haze,
Help Me Remember!
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = I'd Like to Share Precious Memories of
Drinking/Fishing/Snorkeling/Sailing on Diego Garcia MY WARSTORY =
Watching guys swimming naked in the lagoon being told
to get the hell out because SECDEF and wife were
coming down the beach on a
tour.......:>)
1977 NAME = Craig
Hall
MY QUEST = to
help others remember
VT of a SWALLOW
= don't know E-MAIL =
chall3897@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY =
USA
SERVICE = USN
UNIT =
NAVCHAPGRU
RANK/RATE/JOB =
SEABEE SW3 NOW MILLIONAIR LIVING IN ALABAMA DON'T ASK
HOW MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell MY WARSTORY =
To start off with I went to Boot camp in San Diego
Ca.that was in Aprial of 1974. The year before DG I
was in Gtmo for one whole year with one trip to
Montigo bay for R&R. Not sure what year I was in
DG 76 or 77. What month did the cargo ship come in
with the TNT and yellow paint. Well I was only there
to off load the cargo ship. But, long enought to feel
your pain. I remember the hours of unloading TNT off
the ship in the lagoon. The day we lost a RT forklift
into the water and how it was done.(long story) Then
the pallett came apart and painted the mike boat,
yellow from front to back. This all happened in just
about a weeks time. Then fishing on the barge. Going
over to the other side and taking pictures of the
Plaintation house. I remember my war stories and tell
them from time to time but sometimes wonder did they
really happen. Only two of your stories told about the
dress code; that it was nude when ever possable. With
me being a young Christian at the time, what an
experance, for me. How, about the chips and the
bread that came in a can,and the milk in a 3 sided
box. I did not drink anything but Coke and now I can't
stand the tast of Coke even to this day in 2004. All I
had to do was to take pictures, collect shells, and
sleep. And I even now still have the shells.
After my hot trip to DG I went to Naples to do air
cargo. Then left for C school. After C school went to
Adak Alaska for my last year in the Navy.
Any one remember me please write back. Thanks Craig
sorry about my spelling....
1977 "Frass, Steve"
<SteveFrass@clearchannel.com> Ted,
Thanks
for the great web-site on Diego Garcia! I was there
from January to September 1977 with NMCB-62 as the
Battalion photographer and POIC of the Camp Cummins
Photo Lab. I was checking the web for info on the
Tsunami damage to the island and found your site. IT
IS AWESOME! Keep up the great work... Sincerely,
Steve Frass
Jan 77- Jan 78
NAME = William
J Yetter
MY QUEST =
looking for people station on Diego VT of a SWALLOW
= depends on the day E-MAIL =
sandpiper@i-1.net
NATIONALITY =
USA
SERVICE = US
Navy
UNIT = Public
Works,antenna mainttenance RANK/RATE/JOB =
EO1 retired May 1982 Live in Panama City Fla MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = There I Was, Passed Out in My Room MY WARSTORY =
just looking
July 1977-
March 1978 and November 1979- July 1980 NAME = Kevin
"Samurai" Eddy MY QUEST = To
find a Red Roo patch for my riding vest.........oh
yeah living free and ridin' free as well
VT of a SWALLOW
= I'm not sure but it ain't near as fast as those
chickens were! E-MAIL =
thejuggernautone@hotmail.com NATIONALITY =
Texan of course.
SERVICE = US
Navy
UNIT = NMCB
133 "Kangaroo Can Do" MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = My Time There is Lost in an Alcoholic Haze,
Help Me Remember!
MY WARSTORY = I
found this site looking for patches for my riding
vest......................
I
have perused it the last 2 days and realize now how
much I miss those I served with and those I still call
friends even though I have not seen or spoken to them
since.......... to those on the 79-80 tour (that I
remember anyway): CE3 T.J. Avallone, ET3 J.
Bellgraph, EA3 R. Brown, EACN S.B. Coats, BU2 R.D.
Crissey, CM2 L.J. Cruz, BU3 C. Dains, Bu3 R.
DeWitt, BMC J.M. Ezell, EO2 C. Green, SW3 R.
Gustad, EA3 J.E. Messenger, CMCA W.
Mitchell, CM2 R. Moeller, BU1 R.A. Moody, CMCN K.
Overstreet, BU1 D. Pullen, BU3 T. Pullman, EO2
D. Rath, CM3 L. Sullivan...... oh hell the
list goes on and on .................these were good
guys one and all. I personally am proud to have been a
Seabee with them.
Of
course I have to separate these guys from those guys
though I am no less proud of how I fell about them.
But lets face it without Hotel Co. who would have
gotten paid? Ate? Got supplies or those rare R&R
leaves we heard about.... SK3 G. Pasley, SK3 T.
Holian, SK3 C. Leber, DK3 D. Barnett, SK3 J.A. Koenig,
SK2 W. Miller, YN3 M.G. Bland,PC3 P.V. Bradley, MS1
R.S. Collins, MSSN D. Collins, MS2 E.E. Crane, SK2 T.
Dale, DK1 M.R. Felker, YNSN M.D. McCarthy, HM3 D.J.
Henry, PNSN M. Scott, MS3 D.R. Patitz, MSSN F.X.
Porter, SK1 K. Payne, PN3 W. Payne, JO3 J.R. Powers,
SK3 A.V. Filyaw, SK3 N.F. Fobar, YN2 R.F. Gray.
Come on..
Freddy (SN F. Geist), Drac (SKSN M. Griffin) or
Squirrel (SK3 D. Swoope) would I forget you three....
To
the guys from 77-78 133 Diego Detachment that started
that POL pipeline namely: Jerry, Billy, Mule, Drew,
Chris, Browny, Martinez, Chief Cortez, Mask, and the
rest of you guys on page 140 of the cruisebook that (I
can't remember your names) in typical fashion the
names were left off of......
Anyway
to all of you and all of the others before and since.
Well
done gentlemen. well done. Kangaroo Can Do. ......and
did!
Oh
yeah by the way the 77-78 detachment built what we
called a Bar-B-Que Cart..... has any body seen
it? the Kangaroo was on the tongue and it even
had a grill and cooler...... I have
pictures oh yeah I've
got pictures............
March 77 - Oct
31st 77
NAME
= Mark Webster
MY
QUEST = to find the Omega
VT
of a SWALLOW = depends on the day.....
E-MAIL
= not this time
NATIONALITY
= Heinz 57
SERVICE
= USN Retired
UNIT
= NMCB 62 , Base Galley aka Reindeer Inn
RANK/RATE/JOB
= Was a MSSA when I was stationed on Diego Garcia.
Retired in 96 as a MSCS (SW/AW)
MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane
SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = Other
MY
WARSTORY = One afternoon after getting off the Galley
Watch, myself and two mess cooks proceeded to put away
five bottles of Boones Farm Strawberry wine (each) one
afternoon. Being I was 6 foot tall and weighed in at
about 125 pounds the wine and 120 degree heat really
did a number on me. One of the Battalion Projects was
to build a swimming pool on the rock, well I guess I
found it sometime that night and woke up about 2:00AM.
I was in a about a 12 foot pit covered with cuts from
the coral rock. Made it back to my little white
trailer and passed out. Who cares about wasting away
in Margaritteville, I did my thing in Paradise.
1977
NAME
= AL BRANDT
VT
of a SWALLOW = 75 mph
E-MAIL
= maybe next time
NATIONALITY
= USA
SERVICE
= MCB 62
UNIT
= Cm 3 mechanic shop
RANK/RATE/JOB
= Got out in 1980 and still turning wreches
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 'How I Put One Over
On My Senior Chief' Story
MY
WARSTORY = One night we heard that the chiefs
got in a new food supply and at that time it wasen't
unheard of to be naked.Well about six of us went to
the Chief Hut,all butt naked and with there backs to
us we went into the kitchen and started packing out
ice cream,eggs,steaks you name it and they never
figured it out.There are so many thing to say Herman
the Hammer head we played with, stealing MRS and
running around in the ocean all night, We where alway
stealing something getting drunk and doing somthing
fun. They use to sound a horn at the shop just
before they blew a tire off a TS-24, rest would fall
on our heads.
JAN-SEPT 1977
NAME
= Joseph Pranaitis
E-MAIL
= thegardner@charter.net
SERVICE
= USN
UNIT
= NMCB40
RANK/RATE/JOB
= EO THIRD CLASS
MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane
SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell
MY
WARSTORY = I
REMEMBER BEING THERE FOR NINE MONTHS AND IT WAS
FINALLY OUR TIME TO GET OFF THE ROCK. I REMEMBER
GETTING ON THE PLANE AND WE COULD NOT LEAVE BECAUSE
THE PLANE BROKE DOWN. THEN WE HAD TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT
PLANE TO SHOW UP WITH THE PARTS SO WE COULD GET THE
HELL OUTA THERE. DO YOU GUYS REMEMBER THAT?
I
AM REALLY LOOKING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH BILL TUTTLE
& JOHN SHILTS OR IF ANYBODY KNOWS WHERE THEY ARE
PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME. November 1977
through October 1978
NAME
= Rickey D. Green
MY
QUEST = To figure out why one year on Diego effected
my life so profoundly
VT
of a SWALLOW = I have no freaking idea
E-MAIL
= rgreen@direcway.com_nospam
NATIONALITY
= American
SERVICE
= Navy Sea Bees
UNIT
= Driver for Commodor Weiss at 30th NCR and office
errand boy
RANK/RATE/JOB
= Got out in 1978 as a EOCN
MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane
SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell
MY
WARSTORY = OMG I cant believe I have found this
place. Man I got so many stories I could write a
book. But mainly i would just love to
found out what happened to so many of those men that I
served with and respected during my time on
Diego. What happened to Master Chief Cava,
Donald Dawson, Senior Chief Bolte, Lt Steven Hart,
Master Chief Depolis, Ed Fraber, Kieth Olsen, and so
many others whose faces I see but the names I cant
recall. I loved Olympia beer, and getting
drunk and partying back then. I am glad to be
alive after some of those hangovers. But what
the hell was it about that place that I have never
been able to shake it from my mind. I still on
an occasion dream about Diego. Everyone is
always there. Its like I want to go back.
There is so many good memories. In the 30th NCR
our tour was 12 months. I spent most of my time
there when NMCB 74 was there, under Commander
Fort. I was there at his Command change
ceremony. He was A good man. I felt
Commodor Wies was a little hard on him. But Weis
(Slap Happy Jack)was hard on everyone so it seems.
I
wish I could hook up with some of yall and just say
hi. I was there the night they showed the Rocky
Movie and everyone started Yelling and throwing the
beer cans. That out door theate was a hoot.
There
is so much To tell but I won't If you remember me get
in touch Maybe I will remember you.
1977 - 1978
NAME = Mike
Runnels, ABF1 ret.
MY QUEST = To
circumvent Mars
VT of a SWALLOW
= Red, Blue, or Brown? E-MAIL =
mrunnels@lifecell.com
NATIONALITY =
American
SERVICE = U.S.
Navy
UNIT =
NavSupFac Fuels branch
RANK/RATE/JOB =
ABFAN then (man that was so much fun) MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = Want to Return When the First REAL Club Med
Opens SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = I'd Like to Share Precious Memories of
Drinking/Fishing/Snorkeling/Sailing on Diego Garcia
MY WARSTORY =
Well way back then when there were no women (not real
ones anyway) on the island and I was just this young
buck running about doing what all those higher up
types told me to, it seems there was a USO show
scheduled to bring us some live entertain and good
sites (real women that is). Well I was out at
"T" site or "R" site or one of them sites with my 1200
gallon refueler truck and as usual not paying
attention to what I should be doing and yep you
guessed it, overfilled the tank (for the emergency
generator)and had it get all in my eyes. Man
that hurts let me tell you, well anyway, off the
supply types rushed me to Medical where the ol doc
decided I had chemical burns (duh) to my eyes and
(here is the sad part) decided to put patches over my
eyes. "What? No way doc, there is a USO show tonight,
I gotta see it man!!!" Well push comes to shove and
the doc wins with the story of how I might lose my
eyesight and all soooo, on go the patches and me into
depression. (time passes) Later on of course I
am going to that show, patches or not, at least to
listen to the tunes and hopefully at least get a peak
out. My kind and considerate buddies had
decorated my big white patches with bug eyes and red
streaks (of course I saw this later)and the show was
pretty good from what I heard. I got a few peaks
off before I got my hand wacked and afterward we all
went over to the e club for drinks and so I could
drown my sorrows at not getting to see anything.
Lo and behold those wonderful ladies showed up and of
course the room was abuzz with excitment at thier mere
presence and long story short I was able to get me a
hug from one of them and was about the happiest squid
there (hey it's all good when you are alone). So
there is me story from long ago. If ya knew me
then and want to send me a line I will try to remember
ya and will surely answer you at the least. Take
care and may all the gods that are watch over
you. (hehe to much game playing there, but that
is another story!)
1977
NAME
= DAN HERRICK
MY
QUEST = LOOK UP OLD FRIENDS
VT
of a SWALLOW = DEPENDING ON TEMP AND TYPE WITHOUT
ADDITIVES CHUG A LUG SLOW
E-MAIL
= flytyer@pa.net
NATIONALITY
= USA ALL THE WAY
SERVICE
= NAVY NMCB 62
UNIT
= BROVO CO.
RANK/RATE/JOB
= UT3 FORM GOT OUT IN NOV 1977
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 = ED SWOPE REMEMBER PICKING OUT ALL THE CORAL
OUT OF CUTS? ED AND I WERE DRINKING A FEW AFTER A HARD
DAY NEXT THING I DON'T REMEMBER IS THAT WE WERE TOLD
ED AND I JUST STARTED TO BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF EACH
OTHER ON THE SOFTBALL FIELD. WE WOKE UP AND WONDERD
WHAT THE HELL HAPPEND. JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT
STUFF THEY ADDED TO THE BEER WAS NO GOOD. ANYWAY HOPE
ED IS OK. ALSO THE BIG MID DEPLOYMENT PARTY WITH
THE COCONUT THROWING CONTEST WON BY YOUR TRULY. AND
THOSE DAMN PLYWOOD HUTS MAN WHAT A VIEW. PERK PARKER
REMEMBER THE MULES BOTH FOUR LEGGED AND BANISTER
WONDER WHERE HE IS NOW? PERK IF YOU READ THIS CONTACT
ME YOU TO MULE. WAS TUFF TAKING MATTERS INTO YOUR OWN
HANDS. THOSE MULES LOOKED GOOD NEAR THE END OF
DEPLOYMENT AND OF COURSE THOSE SOFTBALL GAMES AND ALL
THE BETS AND DRINKING MAN OH MAN THE GOOD OLE DAYS.
HOPE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE IN NMCB 62 FROM 76 TO 77 I was on Diego
in 1977
NAME
= Gary Hylan
MY
QUEST = To find people I knew when I was there.
E-MAIL
= gehylan58@msn.com
SERVICE
= U.S Navy
UNIT
= I was with a detachment from NMCB 133 POL Pipe Line
Project
RANK/RATE/JOB
= At that time I was a UTCN right out of "A" school
and when assigned to NMCB 133 I said to myself "GReat"
They just came back from Diego. I won't be going
there.
MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = My Time There is Lost in an
Alcoholic Haze, Help Me Remember!
MY
WARSTORY = This is another story about how well the
Navy plans. NMCB 133 det was there(I don't remember
what month) to start the POL pipe line. We got there
and had no equipment. We grabbed an old hootch and
pulled the ends out of it. We were able to locate an
old set of dirt conveyor rollers which we put
into the hootch to roll the pipe in and out before and
after sand blasting. The pipe was then painted and
then we waited for our equipment.
At
the time I was there I was not a happy camper but now
I look back on this experience with some fondness. The
beer sucked so I took to drinking wine. Great place to
buy stereo's. I still have half of what I bought. I
have some hearing loss due to those stereo's blasting
party's. I was stationed
in Diego Garcia from May 1977 to March 1978 NAME = James J.
Volpone
E-MAIL =
JamesVegas56@aol.com
NATIONALITY =
I'm USA True Blue! But my ancesters are Italian, NO
SHIT! SERVICE = I was
In The Navy Seabees, MCB-4, Homeported in Port
Hueneme, Ca. UNIT = I was,
and still am a construction mechanic thanks to my
training in the Seabees RANK/RATE/JOB =
My rank was a reluctant E-4(CM-3)my reluctance was
that I wasn't sure I was ready to be a *"Fly". *
Ref:Fly= Someone in charge! MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell MY WARSTORY = I
was talking to some guys at work about my adventures
while in the Navy and all my fine duty stations and
and couldn't help but talk about my time spent on the
Island Diego Garcia.First of all anytime I mention
this place NO ONE ever has heard of it, or about it.
But Diego Garcia will always remain imbedded in my
memories as one of my most challenging task the Navy
assignded to me during my 4 yr. tour, and I'm very
proud of my contributions to the Island. I was
assingned to the pier project, and was Involved in the
driving of the first pilings ever drivin for the pier
off the causeway. I was trained in Port Hueneme to
operate the Mike-8 for the pier project in Giego, but
due to the coral eating more than it's share of piles,
we never got far enough over the water to acually ever
use the Mike-8. The coral reef would break away and
our piles would just disappear, we would then send our
divers down to weld a new pile to the existing pile
sticking out of the coral and resume our pile driving
efforts.I can remember every time we hit a pocket in
the coral while we were over the water, the crane
would learch on the falsework and alll of us
scrambling to find deep enough water to dive off
into!The crane that we were using was an old(even for
the Seabees!)Pima rubber tire crane that was already
understood to be too small for the pile driver, so
when a pile went through the coral and there was no
resistance to the pile driver the crane would just
about go over the side, This is no Shit!We would stand
watch on the barge at night , we used it the early
stages of our driving operations to float the piles
and the other crane on, I can still remember trying to
sleep on that Iron, banging float for 4 hours at a
time , but I just knew I was protecting all back in
the States, this too is No Shit!One of my other
projects on the Island was not originally a project
for our 50 man Detachment from the main body, but
sucked in no less!While working out at the pier one
day LT.Dempsy, Our Det. commander asked me to assist
the pool project( constructed by MCB-62)in the
gunniting operations , scince none of them had been
trained on the "SQUEEZE CRETE" concrete pump, and I
had been in Homeport prior to my Deployment to Diego
Garcia, I was the only one on the Island who knew how
the Damned thing worked! I, eager to please, agreed to
operate the pump during the gunniting operation and
the results today are your beautiful on Island Pool
facilities!The Commander of MCB-62 was so appreciative
of my work there that I was givin a letter of
Appreciation and put in my Navy records. My motivation
was that of an 20yr old Calif. Kid eager to show up
those east coast boys, and alot of pride in the
Seabees and MCB-4. My time spent on the Island was at
the time not to my liking, but has grown into fond
memories of one of my greatest adventures as a
construction mechanic with MCB-4,Det. Diego Garcia to
present! NO SHIT ! Former CM-3, James J. Volpone
1977 NAME = Brad
Parker
MY QUEST =
Currently questless
VT of a SWALLOW
= If you have to ask..... E-MAIL =
parkerbp74@hotmail.com
NATIONALITY =
US
SERVICE = USN
Seabees
UNIT = NMCB 62
Bravo Company Runway Crew RANK/RATE/JOB =
E-3 then, Make 3rd while there, currently retired. 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
mess cranked for about six weeks when I got
there. Worked in the scullery where it was
typically about 120 degrees and 100% humidity.
We used to clear the place by hollering "mail call,
mail call" and "eat it and beat it, this aint no
restraunt". They came and got me for a picture
when I made Third. Since I'd been in the galley
since arrival, I'd been working every day in t-shirts
that said Reindeer Station across the front, and all I
had to wear for my picture was a LONG SLEEVE shirt
that had been in a ball in the bottom of my locker,
just one big wrinkle. No one cared, I put in on,
they pinned my crows, and they got their
picture. Went to the club to see Shep and the
boys jam on Saturday nights. They were actually
quite good. They place used to degenerate into a
drunken brawl. One night the Skipper and the MC
came by to see what all the commotion was about, and
while they were inside someone went out and pissed all
over their Jeep seats. They let it slide.
All in all it was a good tour, but I wouldnt do it
again. Come to think of it, it pretty much
sucked.
77 NAME = Wm. (
Joe) Schick
MY QUEST = You
Know who you are. I have'nt forgot the loan. VT of a SWALLOW
= Very tasty BBQ
E-MAIL =
joeschc@aol.com
UNIT = MCB 62.
RANK/RATE/JOB =
Steel worker; fab. re-bar,tanks on cosway,steel in
fresh water tanks and more 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
will save this for anuther time,great sight. Been here
lets see......7 hours and will be back for more.
I do have a story or two. Be
Safe "Joe" 1977 NAME = Thomas
W. (Tom) Treece
E-MAIL =
TWTREECE@msn.com
NATIONALITY =
US; SERVICE = Navy; UNIT = NMCB 62, Bravo Company
Projects and Camp Maintenance; RANK/RATE/JOB = brand
new UT2 on Diego. Retired in 1999 as UTCS.
MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane MY WARSTORY =
Had a great year in Diego Garcia in '77. Worked
with quite a few quality people as well as some just
down-right interesting people: UT1 Woods, UT1
Cleversey, CEC Kippenhan, Jack Biggs (who died in
1994), Ed Swope, Jim Lewis(from CBMU 302), UT2
Perky Parker. Enjoyed staying at the
"Plantation" guest house.
NMCB-40 1977
also NMCB 40 1979-80 SEE his 1979 story! NAME = Rick
Baptista; E-MAIL = rbaptista@mediaone.net sometime from
1977 to 1978 kind of a blur NAME = rick
lehner
MY QUEST = to
find missy the beer drinking donkey and members hut
76/spruceblaster VT of a SWALLOW
= which type? answer me these questions three. E-MAIL =
lehnerr@netzero.net
NATIONALITY =
cauc; SERVICE = navy mcb 1 special
detachment; UNIT = spruce blaster/ operate rock drill/
blasting detail/ ; RANK/RATE/JOB = got there as an
eocn left eo3...went home on the 141...told was going
back to the rock on next rotation or i could go home
as there are no detachments when a battalion is
stationed there....guess which one i took? got home to
reserve duty made eo2. went to p.r. on my two
week active duty....guess who was the duty
battalion? yep mcb 1 got to see some of the old
guys....got to do some more blasting while there.
also had to run a rock drill again...so what else is
new. now i'm a social worker after getting injured
as a iron worker after the navy, again go
figure...peace 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 =
wow, where do i start? there sure was alot of drinking
there. seems all the pic's i have i'm holding a bottle
of canadian club. am trying to remember it all. some
of the stories helped. i remember spot the chicken
living under our hut (76). we worker wicked hours
based on tide charts, so it was always back in the
truck to fly rock city. drill, blast, haul to the
leach field, haul to the rock crusher. sent to blast
40K yards of material. we did it in less than six
months. job well done right? thought we could go home
early.... yea, navy told us get 68K yards instead. got
it one day before
hopping the 141 home.. mcb 133 was the bat when
we arrived then they got relieved by mcb 74. j.b.
hager was our 1st class in charge (our den mother)
elmer, bovat, kuntz, feazal, mo, barry, etc. some of
the guys in our team. any of you still around? ok.
best story....we had to get rid of all the expired
dynamite on the island ( the unstable stuff ) no eod
team so we got the job. we didn't know
what it would do. put it in one of our blown out holes
and when it went it rocked the island. we had to steal
a bulldozer one night to move the rock and the gunny
chased us down the haul road,,,, like where did he
think we could go? does any one remember that crap in
somolia or something and them telling us we might have
to go? does anyone remember not getting mail
because the chinese wouldn't let planes fly through their
air space? how about sea snakes? crazy place for sure.
wonder what it's like now???????boy did we do alot of
drinking, i think that was the past time, that and
chasing coconut crabs and the brit rep getting pissed
at us... 4/77 - 9/77
NAME = Doug
Ewald
MY QUEST =
Putting names to the faces I remember VT of a SWALLOW
= Couldn't stand the canned beer. E-MAIL =
cadmaddo@juno.com
NATIONALITY =
American; SERVICE = U.S.Navy; UNIT = NMCB 62 Bravo Co.
Runway Detail, Dug trenches for conduit for apron
& approach lighting RANK/RATE/JOB =
Not another rock! Join the Navy , see the world. MY WARSTORY
= Dug a hell of a lot of coral rock 6 days a
week 10 hrs a day. Installed conc juntion boxes and
pvc conduit around apron and approach to runway. All
grunt work. Chow was bad, beer was worse. Liquir was
cheap. Slept in the
old sea huts till we moved into the a/c'ed tin cans.
Did pull duty at the officers mess skullery, where the
food was better. Worst time was when we were
ready to leave the commercial pilots went on strike
and we were held over a week or two till they could
arrange C-141's to fly us home. On the plane we sat
backwards and I was next to the planes skin and froze
my rear, even with my seabag in between. Stopped
in Iran to refuel. It was warm and hazy, pretty soon
we realized there were snow capped mountains around
us. They made us all go inside a hanger so we couldn't
see military planes landing? Stopped in Germany for a
good breakfast in the night. Landed somewhere in New
York State, Albany? Some 24 hrs later. Check out
militaryconnections.com
God bless
America,
Doug "big E"
Ewald
1977and1978 NAME = Roy
Crain
E-MAIL =
RMN876@aol.com
SERVICE = NAVY
UNIT = NMCB74 A
co.
RANK/RATE/JOB =
cmcn
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 in My Room 77-78 NAME = DICK
MOORE
MY QUEST = VT of a SWALLOW
=
E-MAIL =
DMOORE@YAHOO.COM
NATIONALITY =
SERVICE = UNIT = RANK/RATE/JOB =
MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = Homosexual Interest Only SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = Please Select a Title For Your Story, or
Select 'Other' MY WARSTORY =
Editor's
Note: hmmmmmm... is this for real, OR a very
queer input????
1977? NAME = Mike
Glenn
MY QUEST =
Truth, Justice & the American Way. VT of a SWALLOW
= 0 .... (terminal) E-MAIL =
xglenn@excite.com
NATIONALITY =
US; SERVICE = USAF; UNIT = 9th AMS; RANK/RATE/JOB =
Msgt, Retired (1988) SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell MY WARSTORY =
Part of a group that set up for possible SR-71 (spy
plane) operations from DG.... We brought our own
hanger and some initial support equipment and set it
up. We bunked in the Gym on cots (only 2 barracks had
been constructed at that time) Outdoor theater &
chow hall was operational but not much else. Had both
doors of the gym open with big fans blowing for air
circulation & remember coconut crabs walking
through one door and out the other (like they owned
the place). Found some beautiful colbalt blue &
deep red coral on the ocean side (close to old gun
positions). Seemed like at about 3:30 every afternoon
you were going to get wet....but rain didn't last very
long. The CB's were doing a lot of building downtown
and they was a lot of work going on to modify and
extent the runway and A/C support area. Only spent 2
weeks there but it was an interesting time! Enjoyed
swimming in the protected bay? area....
1977 NAME = Thomas
MY QUEST = To
Discover myself
E-MAIL =
Thomas2001@Hotmail.com
NATIONALITY =
Cauc/hawaaian
MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = Please Select The Category That Best Discribes
Your Interest in Diego Garcia
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = There I Was, Passed Out on The Beach MY WARSTORY =
Total Blackout
Dec.
1977 till Jan 1978 - 379 days TOM
<talgg@telpage.net>
MY QUEST = To
search where no man has ever search before. The
deepest recesses of my memory.
VT of a SWALLOW
= The fewer, the higher NATIONALITY =
Irish American; SERVICE = Nav; UNIT = Plank owner,
NavSupFac (just barely, and have the
Friendly 40 plaque to prove it); RANK/RATE/JOB =
Sh3 did 6 yrs active @ eaos e-5 MY WARSTORY =
Greetings to all of those who have past through the
gates of the the D.G. International
airport. It was a memorable expierence for me as
I had the opportunity to pass through my beloved P.I.
on the way. About a 3 day layover as I remember.
It was memorable because my first order of business
was to find the head. With a knowing groan and
the tell tale burn, I realized that my love of loves
had shared with me the desease known as the CLAP.
It was a
fitting welcome to "the rock". Following are the
"facts" as I remember them. How I got there, and the
most memorable events while there.
My
navy career began Oct. 21, 1975 as a result of a nudge
from the judge, in my hometown "somewhere" in
Pa. (yea I was one of those). Boot camp is
another story for another time but my first duty
station (USS Ashtabula AO51) was wat finally led me to
the unforgettable Rock. The fleet navy (why does
"fleet" always remind me of an enema"? was at the time
probably the most lax in recent history. Viet Nam was
officially over and the non career Vets aboard werre
slowly trickling (or being thrown) out. The
uniform was recently changes from "Cracker Jacks" to
the wonderful "bus driver uniform" which lasted
for the rest of the seventies. This didn't stop
me from going to the Navy Exchange at the first
opportunity to have my picture taken in a set of
borrowed Cracker Jacks to send home to make all the
people back there at least
think I was a "real" sailor.
I
don want to give the impression that I in any way
promote the use of drugs (anymore that is) But lets be
truthful, Pocalolo was prevailant at the time.
Arriving at the airport in Honolulu the 3 fresh
"boots" (myself included) were picked up at the
airport by the ships duty driver, (a career E-1) and
the conversation quickyy lead to the avilability of
something to numb our
minds. Lo and behold the driver reached into his
pocket and produced the most disgustingly thin "j"
that I had ever seen. Then proceeded to tell us to "go
easy" on the miserable excuse for a "j". I
laughed and paid no attention. About 10 minutes later
we arrived at the brow of the "bula". The driver
now realized the error of his ways for he had the task
of carrying our seabags onto the ship for us because
it was the best we could do to make the 3 story climb
to the QD. (Discovery of Maui Wowie 101) I've
included this to give those who served later an
insight to the atmosphere during the 70's.
We
were a seagoing ship. The litterally kept us at sea
making west/pac and IO cruises for the next 2 yrs
except for a couple of months in late
1977. While in the yards at Pearl, I lived
ath the "Y" on Hotel St. I had run into some trouble with some local
Samoans (at least 2000 lbs. worth between them) over
the fair market value of some Pocalolo, which was long
gone. (I had stiffed (very stupid) them,
not proud but truthful). I was "the barber" in a
one chair shop and had a pretty good raport with the
Co. (he loved my haircuts) so with hat in hand, and on
bent knee I request a transfer to isolated
duty...anywhere. He asked for no explainations (
who says that "don't ask and dont tell" is a new
concept?) my request was granted, paperwork prepared
and I was off to NavSupFacDiego Garcia. My
intention was to clean up my act and start cting like
the Sailor that my mother wanted me to be.
This was short lived.
Shortly
after arriving and were indoctrinated, (you know, the
speech about all the dangerous creatures of the sea,
off limits areas, and the guided tour, recapped by the
"Brit Rep" and threatened with life in a British
Prison for any infractions. My first order
of business was to swim among the dangerous creatures,
(nude of course) Sneek through the Donkey gate, and
Mail 50 dollars to a friend in Pearl to send me an oz.
To help make "the rock" tolerable. A Postal clerk
suspected the contents of my "care package" when it
arrived and greatfully hand carried it to me making me
promise to (not be stingy and warned that it was a
stupd thing to do as the Brits were very serious with
their threats) I hid my stash in the jungle and ever
couple of days I would make the trek to the old
coconut stump and partake in changing the
atmosphere. Several weeks later while at the
stump I heard footsteps approaching from behind.
I quickly looked over my shoulder and to my horror it
was "the Brit Rep" My life flashed before me and I
pictured myself spending the rest of my life in a
British Prison cell... "Hey Mate"! he said
as I swallowed the remninats as well as my
tongue. He began questioning my presence on that
log , lucky for me I was not in forbidden
territory. I mustered up as much fortitude
as my condition would allow and began spilling my guts
to the British officer. "Sir, I
said, I arrived here about a month ago from
Hawaii where there were an unlimited numer of females,
(a lie) and I've found myself recently fight the pangs
of lonliness for a female".... He Looked with profound
pity and asked me to continue. "well sir,
I came out here to...ah...well...um...ahh...well you
know sir...I...I...was um...
The
gleam in his eye signaled that he understood my plight
but he decided he wad going to have some fun with this
young sailor for a while. With a questioning
look he asked, "What are you trying to say
mate"? pretending impatiencience.
Again I uttered a series of "uha's" and
"uummmmm's".... and "well sir you...know's" before he
finally decided to let me off the hook...
"So you were toss'n off mate"? I shook my head
yes and he began to laugh outloud. ( I still
hear that laugh in my sleep sometimes nearly 25 yrs
later)... He made some comment about watching out for
the coconut crabs and I could still hear him laughing
after he walked out of sight. You may be
wondering what pertainance this has to the history or
anything interesting about life on "the rock".
The story dosen't end here. Several days later I
was waliking on the sidewalk (one of the few) in front
of the Newly built Navy Exchange office where I
worked. To my horror, coming owardsme was none
other than the Brit Rep, , the Co. and The base
Chaplin. It's diffacult to salute and hide you
face at the same time so I saluted brisky as they
passed. Not seeming to pay me alot of attention,
I prayed the events in
the jungle were forgotten. After several
moments and out of earshot, I turned to see the three
of them standing about 50 feet away intently listening
to the Brit Rep who was apparently telling a vary
funny story. The three looked directly at me,
began to laugh. Everytime the Brit Rep saw me in
the future he extended what became known as the
official "Diego Garcia Chicken Chokin Salute". I
used my resourses working in the exchange, and had 500
t-shirts made and delivered to me with the official
"Choke ur Chicken in Diego Garcia" Logo (my personal
design) and sold them for six bucks a piece making a
hefty 1500.00 from the first order. in all I sold
about a thousand. Some of you may have seen
them. With this I end one of many "No shitters" that
lay buried in my 2 remaining brain cells. Following is
a list of the highlights of my year on the rock.
I will never forget or regret the expierence. 1.Arrived Dec,
1977
2.Started the
"Chicken Chokin Club" Around March of 78(meetings held
nightly. by-laws read ... "no quarum was needed, just
start without us) 3.Hosted The
"Hank and Horaschmit" show on afrts radio With ensign
Pete Moon) 4-7 every sunday morning
4.Worked with
Pete Moon, Senior Chief Manny Cruz, Sh1 Jim Long, Sh1
Smitty and Sh2 Mullins to develop the concept and
create what was known as "The Diego Burger". Jim Long
and I had the honor of cooking the first "Donkey
Burger" and selling it for about 35 cents I
think. We also operated it for several weeks
until we were able to hire help. 5. Appropriated
the Chaplins jeep and with much wisdom decided to
drive it in the newly dug (very deep) which was dug
along the road for the massive fuel lines.
Rolled the jeep and and with greater wisdom decided
that if we couldn't get it out that we better bury it.
After several attempts of doing this ourselves we paid
a CB 50 bucks to do it for us and he counseled us and
convinced he could get it out and we could clean it
and return it before morning without being
discovered. (it actually worked) 6.Bought about
$3,000.00 worth of stereo equip. 600 cassette tapes,
200 albums, and recorded 6 or 8 10" reels of borrowed
music. None of which ever made it to me when shipped
home. Took about 3 years to get the navy to pay
for it finally with the help a congressman. (must have
been karma) 7. Helped to
organize and promote the 1st Annual D.G. Marathon Race
(tip to tip) (couldn't get the rights to t-shirt sales
on that one) 8. A civilian
concern did a poll on the drinking habits of military
personel on isolated dute. (NO shit) Results... We
drank about 30 times the National Average!
Congratulations to all who participated! It also
resulted in stopping the policy of 24 hr a day
beverage sales. The CO proclaimed that all
establishments selling alchohol would be closed
promptly at 2:am and remain
closed until 7:am daily. (this is also a no shitter)
*Footnote...beer of choice on the rock at this time
was Olympia. 9. Bob Hope
visited the Island and brought Miss America from 1968.
The Seabees, (in Proud military fashion) wore
raincoats, as it was the monsoon season. Not
long into the show, they opened their coats and
rendered a "one eye snake salute" to Miss
America. Bob got pissed off, stopped the show
and vowed never to return to Diego Garcia. (Also a no
Shitter as I was there. Not in the front row
though)... 10. Last but
not least, the one thing that I didn't do, not one
single time during my 379 days and nights on Diego
Garcia was...get the clap. The Expierence
was not all fun and games. I did find time to Manage
the NFCU Branch office, and the Official
representitive of American Express. (my day job) Still
found time to cut hair by appointment just to keek
current on my barbering skills. Was enlisted
once due to an inspection of MCB4 to officially work
as a barber. In a single day 5 of us cut the hair of
1500 SeaBees. Most never removed their hats.
There were periods of Boredom on the Rock though not
many. During one such period of time and due to our
fine (and I mean that) diet. I was in the head
taking a "navy" and took the most impressive dump I
had ever seen...(true story) I was so impressed
and overjoyed that I invited a visitor to our hooch.
(for the minimal price of 2.00) to behold my fine work
of art. He was a cajun from New Orleans (and a
SeaBee). He was so impressed that he spread the
word around and I profited 18 dollars from the side
show. (ahhh...simple pleasures) I felt guilty so I
treated them all to an all you can eat...extravaganza
at... you guessed it The
Diego
Burger. If this submission is approved, I would
like to apply to the powers to be for the Position of
Minister of Masturbation. Every government needs
one. Cheers Mates, An aspiring official
government official.
77 - 78 DIXON BENSHOOF
<dixonb4@earthlink.net> UNIT = NMCB
74 A Co.; RANK/RATE/JOB = CM 3 MY WARSTORY = I
don't really have a new story to tell. I think we all
had similar experiences while we were there. Atleast
those of us who came as late as I did. I use to hear
stories about the guys who came to DG first. I am so
happy it was not me.
Feb- Nov 1977
DWAIN P
LANCASTER <dlel42096@aol.com> MY QUEST = I'd
love to see what it looks like today NATIONALITY =
American; SERVICE = Navy; UNIT = EO3, Hauled Cement
from silo to batch plant for paving the turning
aprons. MY WARSTORY =
When we got to the Island, the chow hall was an old
Butler building in the cantoma area. It had so many
rust holes in the roof that when it would rain, pieces
of rust would sometimes fall into your food. We built
the new chow hall before we left. I was in NMCB 62,
which is now decommisioned. We also built the Marine
barracks, and started on the pier. Back then, the only
way to call home was through the MARS station. I can
remember waiting for hours to call home just to have
the radio go down before you could make the call. No
women at all. Lived in seahuts. Remember washing a
Q-tip for the last three months because the ships
store ran out. A couple of suicide attempts from real
young guys that shouldn't have been sent there. Not a
good duty station in '77. To this day whenever I see a
141 I get a lump in my throat, we loved you guys. We
killed alot of donkeys when we were there, I buried
them with a dozer at the dump. After we built the
turning aprons the donkeys would wander across the
runways and the airforce said no mail unless we get
rid of the donkeys. Surprized to see some in your
pictures. Didn't drink while I was there, could
stomache the formalnihide in the beer DAMN I can still
taste it. My son was born while I was there. Didn't
see him till he was 8 mo. old. Got mail on Wed. Stole
alot of cargo nets. We made hamocks out of them.
Burned my share of "shitters". Our wives would send us
pot, in jars of peanut butter. Had to smoke entire
stash in one night because the Brits would find it if
we didn't. We didn't call it dodge back then, we
called it "the Rock" I remember that the Brits
confiscated all our good Porno when we got there and
told us they were going to burn it. Months later we
found out they kept it for themselves. I worked the
landfill the last two months we were there because the
guy that was running it got badly burned and medivac
to the PI. We had two P-3 Orions there at all times.
Sometimes would be used for medivac. Place sure has
changed in 23 years. Looking for others from Alfa Co
NMCB 62. To all pilots that flew C-141's, thanks.
Sep 1977 to Sep
78 (submitted 9 Jan 08) NAME = Mark
Halley
MY QUEST = To
retire from federal service this year VT of a SWALLOW
= Immediately after impact, 0.0 mph E-MAIL =
halley53@excite.com NATIONALITY =
U.S.A.
SERVICE = U.S.
Navy
UNIT = CT 'O'
brancher, worked Ft. Chagos commcenter RANK/RATE/JOB =
Then, I was a CTO2. Left the Navy after 9 years
in Dec 1980. MY INTEREST IN
DG IS = My Time There is Lost in an Alcoholic Haze,
Help Me Remember!
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY: = Other
MY WARSTORY =
Just checking in and updating my email address. My
original post is still here.
[his original
posting follows - submitted in the Dark Ages] Sept 1977 -
Sept 1978
What is your
Quest? To stay ahead of that shark that found me
in the lagoon. What is the
Terminal Velocity of a Swallow? At the equator,
or what? Better yet, what's the last thing to go
thru his mind when he hits the pavement? I already
signed your book, but couldn't leave all the personal
data from where I was surfing. I spent nine years in
the Navy as a CT 'O' brancher and got out in 12/80 as
an E-6. Got a electronics degree and did bench work at
the Charleston shipyard in shop 68 for a few years.
Quit that and got hired by the FAA ten years ago.
Basically I'm still a tech controller after all these
years. I think I had one of the best jobs in the Navy,
nine + years in and only 3 months. Every island
with a military base is called the rock, but D.G. is
the real thing. What a year. Spent a lot of time
on the ocean side beach getting the 100% tan and
knocking down quarts of frozen Annie Green Springs
Plum Hollow Wine. Saw the biggest shark in my
life snorkeling in the lagoon. Tipped a jeep
over on the shell top road heading towards the
plantation side. Almost put it right on top of
my roommate, a CTM named Doug. The best line I ever
heard from anybody was the night at the outdoor
theater when the band was doing "Don't it make my
brown eyes blue", Doug stands up and hollers at the
female vocalist "Baby I'll make your brown eye black
and blue!" We got the donkey drunk too. I still have a
35mm slide of the wrecked PBY. One night after a quart
of JD, we were riding our bikes down the road toward
the flight line with generator headlights burning and
ran head on into two seabees walking up the road the
other way. I sailed about 20 feet. Ex-CT O
brancher, worked at Fort Chagos, drove the
watchstanders bus, worked at Diego Burger and
lifeguard at the pool when I wasn't drinking or
sleeping it off on the sidewalk outside the barracks.
Lived in a seahut when I first got there. Got a nephew
in law (Thomas McCarter) that was a diver on
D.G. Always thought the island was a nice place
but the Navy is sure screwing it up. 1977 BERT
BLADES <cur99@juno.com> What is
Your Quest? To visit diego as a civilian!!! Feb.'77 to
Sept.'77 as part of NMCB62. I still have
memories of that place. Most are good, but a few not
so good. Sure would like to see that
place again.If anybody has any relatively
current pictures, please E-mail me and maybe I
can get a copy. Also I can probably find some pictures
from the 70's of diego. No doubt it has
changed. Thanks for the opportunity to think of
some of the best times of my life. Feel free to E-mail
if you desire. |
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