WAR STORIES FROM PARADISE
You have traveled back to 1981!
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!
Send in YOUR Story NOW using the convenient fill-in-the-blanks form!
Please note that the email addresses are those at the time the entry was received.....sorry if they've moved on
Oct 1981 to Sep 1982
NAME = Dominic Lopez
MY QUEST = To leave my
mark
VT of a SWALLOW = Who
really know?
E-MAIL = cinimod61@hotmail.com
NATIONALITY = American
of Mexican Ancestry
SERVICE = USN Seabees
UNIT = 30th NCR, Det
DG
RANK/RATE/JOB = EO3 then,
EO1 Ret now.
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 = Gawd! So
many to tell. I hated going there but had a great time! My first deployment.
Arrived as Commodore's driver. He drove himself so I got stuck doing office
work and delivering and picking up message traffic at the COMSTA. NMCB
1 was the resident Battalion when I arrived. Was still there when NMCB
1 det DG returned. Bitched and bitched to EQCM Wambold bout being stuck
in an office. He thought he'd teach me a lesson by sending me to work with
NMCB 62's Asphalt Laydown Crew, Local 62014, anyone remember that one?
Paved a hell of a lot there! EO1 Therian was the Sup. EO2 Fruchie was the
crew leader. Met up with EQCM Therian on my last deployment to Rota in
1999 with NMCB 3. Was there in DG when that booter ran the scraper through
the huts. I remember ALICE's. Had my card. EO2 Tim Bryan and I shared a
hut in 'D' circle. Tim was with 62 and worked MLO. I remember the Dallas
Cowboy Cheerleaders, drinking, the outdoor theater, and the weeks the package
store would run dry! I also remember drinking, fishing, drinking, calling
the wife via MARS ("over"), drinking, turtle cove, drinking, coconut crabs,
drinking, jack-off chits, drinking, Mr. Hand meeting Mr. Happy, drinking,
taking tae kwon do lessons from Mike Kim of 5's det, drinking, mail call,
drinking, Ole Olson, drinking, Ole Olson dressed as Santa and receiving
a card with a dollar in it that read "Have a brew on 62", drinking that
brew, rising from a hangover opeing the hooch door and being blinded by
the white sand, drinking, Bozo's Big Top, drinking, R&R in Angeles/Clark
AFB, drinking, oh and drinking! Was there when the first women arrived.
Knew one of them EN3 Stewart from a NAB Coronado. She was pisst off because
someone stole her bra and panties from the laundry. She said what really
pisst her off was that somewhere on the island some asshole had them hanging
in their locker bragging about how they laid her to get them! Hated being
away from home for so long. My first born child arrived while I was there.
We worked hard and played hard! I learned much about being an EO while
there. Learned much about being responsible from the Commodore's staff
Master and Senior Chiefs, Wambold, Baker, Catano, Kennedy, Molino, and
YN1s Greg and Tom and SK1s Garcia and Ski. Every deployment after that
in 4, 40, and 3 I paved asphalt. Wouldn't exchange the experience for nothing.
Guess it was a love/hate relationship.
2/1981 to 2/1982
NAME = Alan Mason
MY QUEST = Finding old
Comrades
VT of a SWALLOW = ?????
I was a UT.....
E-MAIL = alanmason1120@hotmail.com
NATIONALITY = American
SERVICE = USN
Seabees
UNIT = Public Works
RANK/RATE/JOB = then
e3
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 = Just hope
I hear from somebody I was stationed with. Many stories to
tell. I eventually went to NMCB 74. It was fun
and strange all at once.
1980 to 1984 RBRM - 1993
with BJS
NAME = John L
MY QUEST = Returning
just for the Expat club sunsets and Margaritas
E-MAIL = johnjel1234@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY = USA
RANK/RATE/JOB =
Contractor with RBRM and BJS
MY INTEREST IN DG IS
= Want to Return When the First REAL Club Med Opens
SUBJECT OF MY STORY:
= Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell
MY WARSTORY = After
having been gone from the island for approx. 10 years I took a job with
BJS to see how Diego had developed. I had been there from 1980 with
RBRM during the construction years.
In 1982 the Navy approached RBRM and told us they had 10,000lbs of frozen
lobster tail they wanted to sell. Since we had our own food budget
we bought the lobster and started Surf & Turf every Friday night at
the expat mess hall.
When I returned in 1993 I was in the O club and noticed that someone was
getting a lobster dinner for their birthday. I thought "No it couldn't
be the same lobster we bought in "82." Guess what! It had no taste
and was really tough.
So much for lobster at the "O' in 1993. By now I would think it is all
gone.
1981
Wayne
Harris <xncb07@peoplepc.com
Ted,
I was on diego in 1981 with usnmcb 62 then I was BU-3 Wayne Harris,
I have a cruise book if it would help.
1981
to early 82
NAME
= joseph "joe" lee carter
MY
QUEST = to find out what happened to me, i was killed on the island
VT
of a SWALLOW = cant remember
E-MAIL
= musiclover68usa@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY
= american
SERVICE
= navy
UNIT
= under water welder
RANK/RATE/JOB
= petty officer E6
MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Interested World Citizen
SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell
MY
WARSTORY = i was an under water welder on the islandfrom 1980 to 82. a
few months after i was there, i was killed. im afraid the navy
has told my mother and little brother an,(at the very least) inaccurate
story. i would be eternaly greatful if someone could get the real story
to them before my mother joins me.
my mother and little brother were told that several other buddies were
killed with me. they said the boys and i had been out celebrating a buddies
birthday and were on our way back from where ever we were, riding in the
back of a pickup truck, we were drunk(ofcourse) and getting rowdy in the
back when the driver leaned out the window and yelled to us to settle down
and when he turned back around he was drifting off the road, he jerked
the wheel to get back in the road and the truck flipped over killing most
who were in the back. in fact i think they said that ALL had been killed.
now surely if this were true, someone would have been thrown clear i would
think. i was half puerto rican/cuban and half white though i looked mostly
like a medium dark skinned puerto rican. my buddies called me joe, and
i loved to play guitar and bass. if anyone knew me please get ahold of
my little brother charlie at musiclover68usa@yahoo.com
From:
"Dan" <voyeur777@cox.net>
Date:
Sat, 2 Feb 2008 10:50:20 -0800
I
was on the USS Dixon AS 37 . It was the first ever west pac for the boat
. But cant find any info from are time on DG. We were thear about 5 months
. in 81 or 82 I think. I wish i wasnt so drunk the hole time on shore.
Did catch a 250 lb. hammer head off the fantail of our boat ! That was
fun. Well Enjoyed you web page . Brings back old times for me. Thank You.
Dan
1981-1982
NAME
= Brian Storrer
MY
QUEST = You tell me.
VT
of a SWALLOW = It is hard to record.
E-MAIL
= marathonmarineusa@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY
= American
SERVICE
= Navy
UNIT
= USS Mars (AFS-1)
RANK/RATE/JOB
= MM3 A-Gang
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 Sailing Story
MY
WARSTORY = Real simple. Traveled here from station just outside the Persian
Gulf. Two times to be exact. Since there was no pier in those days we ran
small boats from the ship anchored in the lagoon. I was the engineman on
many, many of those trips. I loaded lots of drunken sailors onto the motor
whale boats and almost as many drunken officers when I worked the officers
or captains gig. Saw some really cool rays a couple of times. On liberty
once my friends and I headed out into the jungle and tried to open a couple
of coconuts. Then some guy came by on the dirt road in a jeep and gave
us a ride back to the beach. Really exciting stuff. My good friend re-upped
and was rewarded by being assigned to Diego Garcia for one year. It was
either that or Beirut or maybe the USS Ranger. All about equally bad duty
stations. Bottom line. I never forgot that place and always was amazed
at far out on a limb Uncle Sam really was at that time in the region. Take
Masirah Island for example. That is a story for another day.
1981
1982
NAME
= EO-3 Soltys
MY
QUEST = Lets get the info right I love you guys
VT
of a SWALLOW = eat me
E-MAIL
= doughunterman@aol.com
NATIONALITY
= us
SERVICE
= navy
UNIT
= nmcb-62 81-82
RANK/RATE/JOB
= eo-3 soltys
MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Other
SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell
MY
WARSTORY = eo-3 slowinski passed away last fall. he was a piece but we
would all stand by him.
june
1981 - june 1982
NAME
= bryant french
MY
QUEST = get to heaven
VT
of a SWALLOW = 23 mph
E-MAIL
= frenchybryant@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY
= african american
SERVICE
= navy
UNIT
= t-site,,,electronic tech.
RANK/RATE/JOB
= ET 3,,,,THEN,,,,,GUARD NOW
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 Fishing Story
MY
WARSTORY = HELLO ALL, I GOT TO DEIGO GARCIA IN JUNE 1981, 20 YEARS OLD,
MY BIRTHDAY WAS MAY 29, I SPENT THAT DAY IN THE P.I., ANGELES CITY, THE
BEST BIRTHDAY IN MY LIFE,MY FIRST TIME OVER SEAS, I WAS LIKE A KID IN A
CANDY STORE.
I WENT TO CLARK AIR FORCE BASE EVERYDAY TO GET A PLANE TO D.G.,,BUT
IF YOU GO TO THE BACK OF THE LINE THE PLANE GETS FULL THEY TELL YOU TO
COME BACK TOMORROW AFTER A WEEK OF THIS I WAS OUT OF MONEY, NO SLEEP FOR
DAYS PARTY MY ASS OFF, WENT TO BED WITH MORE WOMEN THEN THE LAW ALLOW,
I WAS READY FOR D.G., I ASK THE MAN IN CHARGE TO PLEASE PUT
ME ON THE PLANE, HE LOOK AT ME WITH PITTY AND SAID GET YOUR BUTT ON THE
PLANE.
THAT WAS THE START OF MY 1 YEAR ADVENTURE ON D.G.,WHICH WAS NOT THAT BAD,
IN 1981 THERE WHERE NO WOMEN ON DEIGO, 3000 MEN AND THE SHEEP WERE SCARE.
I NEVER READ THAT MANY BOOKS IN MY LIFE OR SAVED THAT MUCH MONEY.
I WORK AT T SITE, 17 MILES FROM DOWN TOWN, PASS THE DONKEY GATE.
OUR C.O. WAS COMMANDER SISSON, A VERY GOOD C.O.,,,HAS ANY ONE
SEEN THE SHARK HECTOR LATEY?? HE'S PROBERLY
DEAD, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DONT KNOW HECTOR, HE WAS A 27 FT. HAMMER HEAD
SHARK, WHO LIVED IN THE LAGONE SOME TIMES. I WORK PART
TIME AT THE EM CLUB BEFORE THE PHILIPINES CONTRACTORS TOOK OVER.
THAT WAS A GOOD TIME, FIGHTS EVERY NIGHT, NO GLASS IN THE CLUB.
THE FISHING WAS THE BEST IN THE WORLD, I HAVE A PICTURE WITH A 60 LB RED
SNAPPER, AND A 40 LB GROBBER,,IF MY EX WIFE WOULD JUST GIVE
ME MY SHIT BACK I WILL SHOW YOU,. BUT NOTHING BEATS THE DUMMY WHO
GOT BIT ON THE ASS BY A SHARK ON THE BEACH, HE THOUGHT IT WAS DEAD.,,I
SAVE A GUYS LIFE ON THE REEF OUT FROM THE CHIEF CLUB HE GOT BIT BY A JELLY
FISH AND COULD NOT SWIM IN, IT WAS JUST THE 2 OF US AND I HELP HIM GET
IN, THINK GOD I WAS THERE.
1981
NAME
= Ron C
VT
of a SWALLOW = E=MC Light
E-MAIL
= five-ton1@hotmail.com
SERVICE
= Navy
UNIT
= NMCB-1
RANK/RATE/JOB
= BU-3
MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane
SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell
MY
WARSTORY = Well my journey started by sitting in a hot hanger for hours
while they kept us awake till we could go to our huts.
One
story sticks out in my mind. I was there when the only women on the Island
where at sick bay or they came off the tenders anchored in the lagoon.
I would take Sunday walks down the beach on the sea side and would come
across some very pretty women sunbathing topless ye ha.
But
this one time the bee’s had just finished up the first of the new concrete
3 story barracks were the old fire station used to be in the Seabee camp,
but we still parked our 5 tons and duce in a half’s there at night.
Well
this one chief petty officer that worked full time at the base hospital
she was real pretty and everybody called her hard hats had the biggest
rack going on the island at that time.
The
job I was working on we were building 20’x80’ butler hut for the air force
up at the airport well we decided to work thru the night, but around midnight
I hopped into my 5 ton and started back to my hut for sodas for the guy’s
well I pulled up behind the new concrete barracks people had started moving
in a few days earlier, and there were know curtains on any of the windows.
Well
to my surprise who walks out from around the corner with no cloth on, but
hard hat wow what a body and a great rack well here I sit in my 5 ton looking
right in at her at first she didn’t know I was there I tried to hit the
lights switch to turn them off and kill the engine quickly, but being so
dark the truck I fumbled for the switches because I couldn’t take my eye’s
off of hard hats.
Well
after about a minute or so while she was drying herself she looked up and
out the window and to her surprise because the 5 ton was so high there
I was smiling wide eyed at her well she grabbed the sheet tore it off her
bed and covered herself and raced back around the corner to the bathroom.
When
I got back to the guys with the sodas I told them what I seen well after
that we all took turns going for soda if we worked late.
Those
images will be burned on my mind till I go to the grave.
1981
NAME
= Keith L. Spooner
MY
QUEST = To sail the seven seas, yo ho ho and shot of Tequila and San Miguel
VT
of a SWALLOW = how the !@## do I know.
E-MAIL
= spoons2512@aol.com
NATIONALITY
= All American
SERVICE
= USN
UNIT
= Uss Dixie AD14 S6 Div.
RANK/RATE/JOB
= DP3 - Vet.
MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Want to Drink A Lot, Cheap
SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = This is a No-Shit Fishing Story
MY
WARSTORY = Fishing story not about me, but about the rediculous amount
of others that hung out on the fantail every night until the early morning
hours catching everything from nothing to 5.5' to 7' shark, that is why
I didn't drop a hook in the water, those fish bite back, I'm used to fishing
for Bream and Bass, etc., I remember a fella bringing up a shark, I backed
up a tad cause the big boy was pissed, thought the damn shark wouldn't
stop floundering around (good word for a shark jerking around) but anyway
the fella finally was able to slit the sharks gut, gees what a putrid smell
(another good word) but out come one sneaker, everyone sorta stopped and
stared at the shoe, we all probably were wondering if there had been something
attached to the shoe when it was devoured, the fella that caught the shark
took the shou went to the head and washed it off, well I hope, and mailed
it home. Anyway thats it. Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving
and don't forget to put in a word for the troops in the Middleeast.
Keith Spooner
Nov. 22, 2006
1981
NAME
= Mickey White
E-MAIL
= mikew3439@sbcglobal.net
NATIONALITY
= USA
SERVICE
= Navy Seabee
UNIT
= NMCB 62
MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Please Select The Category That Best Discribes Your
Interest in Diego Garcia
SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell
MY
WARSTORY = Bob Stedham was on Det Diego in 83, he wasnt in Guam or if he
was not for the whole deployment. I have Pictures
81-82,
83, 99-00
NAME
= Andy Bigelow
E-MAIL
= cdrcab@mailcity.com
NATIONALITY
= USA
SERVICE
= Navy
UNIT
= NMCB 62 and NAF
RANK/RATE/JOB
= CDR (Ret.)
SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell
MY
WARSTORY = First deployment after joining the Navy and NMCB 62 as an Ensign.
Arrived advanced party and departed delayed party ('81-'82: 9 months).
Last full Battalion deployed to DG. There were no Dets during this deployment.
Living in a Seahut was a unique experience. Nothing like going into the
Seabee Camp's Enlisted Club and sending guys back to their huts to put
on some clothes. At least a towel! Or have a guy try to crush
his fellow Seabee's with a scraper. Be careful of who you pick on
as they may not think it's funny especially around large pieces of construction
equipment. Good thing he didn't know how to operate it correctly.
We did such a great job they let about 40% to 50% of the battalion go home
about 3 months early then the Regiment doubled our workload as we had to
tie up all the loose ends as the last Battalion. Saw the first group of
females, that were perminently stationed on island, arrive. Interesting,
especially when we heard they had been told to stay away from the Seabees
and out of the Seabee camp during their briefings before arriving on island.
Volunteered to go back as AOIC of the "Last Det." with NMCB 62 ('83: 8
months). Chief "Huck" worked hard to complete my JO training.
Tough not being the big boys on the block as the Seabee population dropped
from 900-1000 to less the 150. Could not keep the NAF MA's from chasing
a wayward Seabee into the Seabee Det camp. Always made for an interesting
evening when this happen. Went back as PWO ('99-'00: 13 months).
Things change but still stay the same. PW was located in the old Craft
Shops (leather, woodworking, Audio/visual) we (NMCB62) completed in 82.
Had the power go out 20 minutes before midnight 31DEC99. Not Y2K
just a failed lightning arrester but it made for an interesting 30-40 minutes
at every Y2K party on island unitl power was restored. The original
Seahuts are all but gone though they are bulding new one in the contractor's
camp. Seabee's are back, they realized they still needed them on
island and currently have re-established Seabee Dets on DG. Diego
Garcia is one of the best kept secrets. The family separation is
tough but if they ever do allow families to come on board, nobody will
want to leave. Made full circle - First deployment during first tour
then last assignment before payback tour and retirement.
JUNE
1981
NAME
= RAYMOND J DOUGLAS
E-MAIL
= TESSIED702@aol.com
NATIONALITY
= AMERICAN
SERVICE
= US NAVY IS THERE ANY OTHER BRANCH
UNIT
= TPU SEABEES / MAA INVESTIGATIONS MAKING COPIES OF REPORTS
RANK/RATE/JOB
= E1 AIRMAN THEN, NOW RETIRED AFTER 20 YEARS W. WILLIAMSON RECRUIT
SHIPMATE FOR THE NEST FOUR YEARS.
MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane
SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell
MY
WARSTORY = BACK IN JUNE 1981 I HAD FOUR MONTHS IN THE NAVY. I HAD NEVER
LEFT MY HOME IN UPSTATE NEW YORK BEFORE THIS TIME, I HAD NEVER BEEN OUT
OF NY. EXCEPT TO BOOT CAMP. I WAS ENROUTE TO THE USS KITTY HAWK FOR
MY TOUR OF DUTY. I SPENT TWO DAYS ON GUAM, AND ONE NIGHT IN THE PHILLIPINES.
I HAD NEVER HEARD OF DIEGO GARICA BEFORE. I LANDED ON AN C5 FROM CLARK.
THE AIR FORCE PUT ON A BUS, AND TOOK US DOWN TOWN DG AS THEY PUT IT. THERE
WAS ABOUT 10 OF US BOOTS HEADED TO CV63. I GUESS THEY THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY
TO TELL DOWN TOWN DG. WHEN WE GOT THERE WE REALIZED WE HAD BEEN MADE A
JOKE OF. WE SHOPPED IN THE SMALL STORE THEY HAD THERE. THEN WE HEADED BACK
TO THE WOODEN, AND SCREENED IN HUTS, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE OUR HOME FOR
THE NEXT 30 DAYS. AS WE PASSED BY THE ROLL OF HUTS ON THE BUS THE AIR FORCE
TOLD US TO REPORT BACK THERE THAT WAS WHERE THE NAVY LIVED. WE HAD TO PICK
UP OUR BEDDING EACH MORNING SO THE SAND FLEAS WOULD NOT GET INTO TO OUR
BEDDING. MY FIRST NIGHT THERE I WAS SO SCARED, IT WAS THE DARKEST NIGHT
I HAD EVER SPENT. I REMEMBER LISTENING TO NOISE THAT REMINDED ME OF A TARZAN
MOVIE. THEN I HAD TO USE THE BATHROOM, WHICH WAS APPROXIAMTELY 100 FT AWAY
FROM OUR HUT. I HELD IT UNTIL I HEARD ANOTHER PERSON HEADING OUT TO USE
THE RESTROOM THEN I FOLLOWED BEHIND HIM.DG WAS THE FIRST PLACE I SWAM IN
SALTWATER. I LOVED THE PLACED LITTLE DID I KNOW HOW MUCH I WOULD REGRET
EVER LEAVING DG TO GO OUT TO SEA. ONCE ON BOARD THE KITTY HAWK I DID NOT
SEE LAND FOR THE NEXT 120 DAYS.
1981
NAME
= lenny grindstaff
E-MAIL
= gstaff64@yahoo.com
SERVICE
= navy
UNIT
= NMCB 62
SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = I'd Like to Share Precious Memories of Drinking/Fishing/Snorkeling/Sailing
on Diego Garcia
MY
WARSTORY = Funny, how the memories fade for some of you guys.
1.
The fight was not between two seabees. It was between two fleet tweets
and
our
Seabee. Our Seabee got hit with a rake. The fight was the Seabee's
fault.
He
had a really big mouth and wasn't liked very much by Delta Company.
And
no,
he didn't die.
2. The Proteus was the ship stationed there.
3. Hector was a Hammerhead Shark
4.
Bob Stethem was know as ROB to his friends. And he didn't make the
Det
Diego
Deployment. He was main body Guam.
5.
Ole Olson was a much better CO then John (holy rolling)Elkins
1981
AUSTRAIL
LIGHTNING
<maritimesam@aol.com>
we
got to diago on nov 1981 i stayed till march 82 what a sh------ maritimesam@aol.com
October
1981 to January 1982
NAME
= Joel W. Gossman
MY
QUEST = To share with other inmates of the rock.
VT
of a SWALLOW = Is that an African Swallow....?
E-MAIL
= mast_elec929@hotmail.com
NATIONALITY
= American
SERVICE
= USN
UNIT
= MSCO Indian Ocean USNS Jupiter
RANK/RATE/JOB
= RM2
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 remember drinking a lot of alcohol at the Brit Club. My advise
to you is not pick a fight with a stevedor on the merchant ship, especially
when you and him have been drinking for three days. I wound up in
the hospital the next day not knowing what th' fuck happened with a broken
fucking jaw. We where best friends for the rest of the tour.
79-80;
81-82
Grady,
Dave [Dave.Grady@city.pittsburgh.pa.us].
I
was in nmcb 62 and did a couple of tours in 79-80 & 81-82, Great website
Feb.
1981 toJanuary 1982
NAME
= RM2 Joel William Gossman
MY
QUEST = To be recognized as Dodge Resident VT of a SWALLOW = European or
African?
E-MAIL
= nast_elec929@hotmail.com
NATIONALITY
= American and proud of it
SERVICE
= United States Navy
UNIT
= Msco Indian Ocean USNS Mercury
RANK/RATE/JOB
= RM2 now a civilian
MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Professional Adventurer Looking For The Ultimate Get
Away
SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = This is a No-Shit Fishing Story
MY
WARSTORY = I remember the flight to DGAR. What a fiasco. We
left Norfolk, Virginia during the blizzard of 81' (just two hours before
we departed CONUS a plane had struck a bridge in Washington, D.C) the atmosphere
was heavy with trepidation. What the hell where we doing? Does anyone
realize its snowing?? I guess after three days waiting in the terminal
(typical MAC flight) to depart, getting started was a better option.
We loaded the C-141 and began our adventure. Here I was sitting in
this red jump seat not three feet from a tank and jet engine. The crew
started handing out ear plugs. Earplugs? What the hell do I need
with these I asked. The crewman advised me that it may get a tad loud in
the cargo bay during our flight. LOUD? Loud is not the word. It was unbearable,
but I had my earplugs. I should have known this was goung to be an experience
I would never forget. I remember sitting in this C-141 and looking out
at the other "passengers" and thinking this plane sounds alittle funny.
Something is not right. It is a bit unerving when you see the crew
scrambling about with the urgency of impending doom. We where told
to fasten ourselves and sit tight. Sit tight? What the hell
is going on? Then we heard the "BANG". The plane sputtered and I could
feel the speed of the plane deminish. The poor crewman who was taking care
of the passengers was scrammbling around the inside of this craft like
a monkey in a cage. He was tying equipment down, crwaling on top of the
secured engine and buttoning up all loose articles in the plane.
I could remember thinking, "this is it?, I'm going to die in this plane
over the Atlantic Ocean? Well that was when the jet engine sprung its straps
and shifted about two feet towards me. I could'nt move I was secured in
my jump seat. Well after about a half hour of struggling with this engine
the crewman had it secured and settled. He sat down next to me, sweating,
shaking, and thoroughly exhausted, he turned to me and said, "you O.K?"
I replied I was fine but the shit in my pants is making me smell funny.
I am glad to say that was the only in flight incident we had. After
what seemed to be an eternity this crewman announced that we will be making
a "QUICK" stop in Rota, Spain to take a look at the plane. Well this "Quick"
stop turn into three days. Three days restricted to the terminal
at Rota, we could not leave the seating area in the terminal, no food,
nothing to drink (the soda machine was empty), three days of sitting, because
you could'nt sleep in those damn chairs. Finally we where told to reboard
our aircraft. At last off to DGAR. Off to DGAR? This is the military, Ronald
Reagan era. Somewhere over the Med we had another problem, only this time
they did not let anyone know what it was. We where told we would
be making a stop in Athens, Greece to "check things out". We where told
it would be a "short stop". Yeah right. Three more days and
one more terminal. By this time we where like sheep, just tell us
where to go and where to wait. I figured Greece what an opportunity, I
wanted to get out of the terminal and visit the Acropolis, drink some Uzo,
sample the local flavor, like hell! We sat in the terminal the whole
time (now remember we haven't bathed and are wearing the same close we
had on in Norfolk) sticky, sweaty, annoyed, and very uncomfortable. It
seemed like a month, I felt like I was in an old Twilight Zone episode.
Finally we where ready to continue our quest and boarded the plane like
young school kids going on a field trip. We got settled in, they fed us
some food gave us some Coca-Cola and said we where on our way to DGAR.
Well that was as far from the truth as you could get. Next stop, Kenya,
Nairobi. Thats right Kenya, Nairobi. Emergency landing at the International
Airport in Kenya. This time we where'nt there for three days, we where
lucky, we got stranded for five. But this was different. This was a civilian
airport, surely we could circulate, buy souvenirs, taste some of the local
food. NOT. We where instructed about the local government and there not
so loving accord with the United States. Be careful and stay together
we where told. Right, here I was, a boy from The Bronx, in Africa.
I didn't care what anyone told me, I was going to see this place. So, I
carefully left the safety and security of the United States Consulate area
and ventured out to the streets. I was enjoying my "Freedom" taking
in the local flavor. I jumped in a taxi and told the nice driver
to take me to the Bush. Here I was all excited to see Africa in its
natural state. My mind was on Lions, Elephant, Zebras, Giraffe, and
Safaris. I did not know that Africa had old Starsky and Hutch episodes
on their TV's. This driver took me to the nearest whore house. Well
not wanting to disappoint my driver,I accepted his invitation to sample
the local flavor. In Africa apparently the price for a good time was well
below the American market. $2.00 got me a lay and lunch. After we
where done with our "TOUR", the drivcer took me back to the airport and
dropped me off where I was picked up by two machine gun toting policemen,
and huridly escorted back to American Consulate for a toungue lashing.
The next four days where spent between the terminal seating area and a
really nice bar upstairs in the passenger lounge area. Drinking Tusk
beer and eating local food it turned out to be a pleasant experience.
Back to my trek. Finally we where headed to DGAR. I still remember looking
out of the window and seeing lights in the middle of the ocean and thinking
about the solitude and remotness of this place and dreading the 12 months
I had to serve there.
The plane landed at 2:00am, we taxied, stopped and sat for about an hour.
The plane door opened and I could feel the heat and smell that smell, a
smell only residence of Dodge know, on to the orientaiton . We where
told all the does and don'ts, all the restricted behavior and introduced
to "the Brits".
My first night on the rock was spent drinking on the beach on the lagoon
side of the island thinking how beautiful this was, and it was truly an
experience I treasure. The sun was coming up and we finally saw our
first site of Dgar in the light of day. What the hell did I get myself
into? This place is like McHales Navy, Pith Helmets and Jungle Boots.
A veritable tropic paradise spoiled by the United States Navy.
My time in Dodge is full of memories of good times fun in the sun and endless
days of drinking and merriment. That is my memory, and we all know
we remember the good and block out the bad.
As I get older and nostalgic, I think of Dodge with fondness and hope that
one day I can revisit this tropical paradise that only a few luck people
have had the fortune to live.
We are truly a unique bunch of visitors to a very unique place on this
big planet we call home.
1981
NAME
= Dan "herbie" Giampietro
MY
QUEST = to seek out old members of nmcb 62
VT
of a SWALLOW = wicked quick
E-MAIL
= danotoo@comcast.net
NATIONALITY
= American
SERVICE
= Navy Seabees
UNIT
= NMCB 62
MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Want to Drink A Lot, Cheap
SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = I am a Born Liar, and Want To Tell About All The Sex I Had
on Dodge
MY
WARSTORY = no stories sure but i do remember heny running that big as scraper
through those trailers i thought foe sure he killed someone
1981
(I Thinks
NAME
= steve
MY
QUEST = tell the truth
VT
of a SWALLOW = never had a swallower in dg
E-MAIL
= slvs@frontiernet.netwhitw
NATIONALITY
= white
SERVICE
= seabee
UNIT
= pier / pole setter
RANK/RATE/JOB
= electrian E5
MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane
SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell
MY
WARSTORY = Does anyone remember the day the power went out in DG. This
my story and I'm sticking to it. I was minding my own business when someone
in a truck pulled up to set a utility pole. (It wasn’t me and I’m sticking
to my story because my Chief told me to.) Well the guy (not me) thought
he had to maneuver his truck to get closer to a building to set a new utility
pole. Well he broke the golden rule that says you always lower your boom
before moving the truck. I’m sure he thought because he had such a large
open area to swing the truck around he could break the rule this one time.
Well you probably guessed it; he managed to sideswipe the main power feeder
causing the power plant to shut down the entire island. This guy at least
had enough sense to stop and back the truck up off the feeder. Thank god
he did not panic and jump out of the truck otherwise you would have never
heard this story. This incident made the front page of the DG news paper.
The local Filipino’s reported they seen a milk truck hit the power line.
The boom on the truck had a few arc marks, nothing a little grease couldn’t
cover. That Chief must have learned this in a savior training. I hated
DG but love it today.
1981
NAME
= Andy Arel
MY
QUEST = Find some old pals..
E-MAIL
= megk62@yahoo.com
SERVICE
= Navy
UNIT
= Alfa Co. NMCB 74
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'm
looking for Geek and JD Martin and others.... WTF is everyone??
Acid Andy was the nick!
I've
seen Phil and Jack over the years.. would like to find the rest of yous'un....
1981
NAME
= Joe Phifer
E-MAIL
= phiferdusty@aol.com
NATIONALITY
= american
SERVICE
= United States Marines Corps
UNIT
= Bravo 1st. battalion 3rd. marines 1st. marine brigade BLT.1/3
USS>TARAWALHA1
1979-1982
NAME
= ed crays
MY
QUEST = find other NMCB3 seabees
VT
of a SWALLOW = Dimples from Subic
E-MAIL
= crayzys@aol.com
NATIONALITY
= Italian
SERVICE
= US Navy Seabee's
UNIT
= Naval Mobil construction battalion 3 gold team
RANK/RATE/JOB
= EM3 equipment mechanic
MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Want a Job as Far Away from My Wife as Possible
SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell
MY
WARSTORY = Jolo's pics wanted, wheres the pic of dimples Dave? Who remembers
Florida club and the brown derby?
1981 to 1982
NAME = ABH3 Joseph Scott
Brown
MY QUEST = To Surf the
World
VT of a SWALLOW = HUGH?
E-MAIL = josephscott13@sbcglobal.net
NATIONALITY = Texan
SERVICE = US Navy
UNIT = Crash Crew
RANK/RATE/JOB = ABH3
Now Free
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 = We were
just a bunch of kids haveing a bunch of fun!!! Robert Earnest,Vince Chaput,Ed
Plouff,Gorman,I wish I could find you guys!!! And
others I can't remember
their names because of the booze. Don King was our super,great guy!!! We
made boards out of plywood and surfed,we snorkeled and fished everywhere
that was restricted. If you were not supposed to be there we were there.We
made the best of it.Get in touch with me. Lets swap stories.One night Earnest
and I were on the runway waiting for a plane to land,smokeing a little
hash in a beer can pipe we thought we were seeing things when Marines started
comeing out of the bushes behind us.I drove up and down the runway avoiding
them.They captured the tower and everybody back at the crash shack but
not us. This is just a fraction of the fun we had on the ROCK.Thank you
to everyone who made my time there one of my favorite memories.I love all
of you guys,and hope to hear from you soon.FUCK THE BRITS!!!!! ABH3 Brown
1981-1983
NAME = Scott Zoeller
MY QUEST = remember the
old days...
VT of a SWALLOW = african
or european?
E-MAIL = scott_zoeller@hotmail.com
NATIONALITY = usa
SERVICE = U.S. Navy Seabees
UNIT = NMCB 62
RANK/RATE/JOB = BU3 and
BU2 on the Rock BU1 later
MY INTEREST IN DG IS
= Stroll Down Memory Lane
SUBJECT OF MY STORY:
= Other
MY WARSTORY = I was asigned
to NMCB 62 Delta Company in 1981. We made the endless journey through Frankfurt
to the exclusive resort publicly known as Diego Garcia. It always seemed
that Delta Company was the bastard company of the Battalion. We did the
construction support of Charlie Company. I ran a crew of texcoat freaks.
Paul Barnett and John Case were memorable men as well as Kirby O'Brien
(Our Hut Slut), Curt Boos, John Laspisa and countess others. No women on
the island except some visitors from the ships and a brit named Carmen.
It was the last great Hurrah for the Seabees in the island's history. It
was wneh Henry crashed the scraper into his hooch and nearly killed his
hoochmates. I think he was getting shit about golden showers. He was a
hell of an operator cause he smashed that hut ofter making a hairpin turn
into the camp. They sent him away quick. We lost power in the huts I was
in for a few hours. Needless to say when it came to emergency construction
rerpairs the ballation had it all. We had great fun with the loyal british
subjects on the island. No not the BritRep...the cats, chickens and the
delicious coconut crab(did I say delicious?)
Ireturned with Det Diego
the following deployment when the main body went to Gwam. Much lower key
this time. I remenber Proctor's Builder's test. I bet they don't do those
anymore. I did Texcoat again this year. My boss was John Weiss. A bit of
a hard ass but a hell of a guy. He embodied the seabee style of if its
done its good and if its not done its bad. We must have erected half a
hundred premade bus stops. One of my workers, Bob Steathem was coerced
into jackhammering a concrete pull box at the runway porject run bu some
olf fart CE1. I remember pulling the compressor off the job, getting into
a pile of shit over it and then the Lt. found out it was a 13800 pull box
that would have shut down the airfiels if it was breached. Made an enemy
out of the CE1 but saved Bob from possible electrocution. (Bob was killed
by terrorists on flight TWA 847 after leaving the battalion and becoming
a diver. A gentle and good man.) The best thing about Diego this time aroubd
was that there were GIRLS. Not just TAD but women assigned to the
NSF and NAS. I made some great female friends, best of which was Alice
Marsh and Vicky Reinhart. It gave the island some civility wit women aboard.
The det made a raft called the Lil DILIGAF for the raft race. We did'nt
win but it was a good time both to the raftsmen and we who watched the
race. They would not allow beer on the rafts. A little inginuity and the
flotilla became a floating beer barge. We had a bit of shit when one of
the women was the focus of a rake attack between 2 guys in Alpha Company
but I don't remember if that was the Det or the Main body Deployment. We
left the island as the last detachment and moved to Gulfport for another
few months then on to Rosy Roads.
April, 1981
NAME = Mike "Juice" Pajewski
MY QUEST = To sail back
to Diego (On top of the water)
VT of a SWALLOW = 15
knots
E-MAIL = check the Cincinnati
Homepage
NATIONALITY = USA
SERVICE = US Navy - Submarine
Service
UNIT = USS Cincinnati
(SSN-693)
RANK/RATE/JOB = In 1981
- EM2(SS)
Today EMC(SS) (Ret)
MY INTEREST IN DG IS
= Stroll Down Memory Lane
SUBJECT OF MY STORY:
= This is a No-Shit Drinking Story
MY WARSTORY = SKI Mount
Diego
The joke amongst the crew of the Cincy was that there was a ski lodge on Digeo Garcia. We even sold Lift Tags to raise money for beer. The tags were labeled SKI Mount Diego
I flew out to meet the boat on a C-141. The Cincinnati crew wore red ball caps as a matter of pride. When I arrived, no one had a red ball cap and I was very confused.
A few nights later I went
up to the boat deck on the USS DIxon to use the MARS radio phone. While
waiting my turn, I was approached by no less than three women from the
crew, offering oral gratification in exchange for my ball cap. Turns out
the WAVES on the Dixon were having a competition to see who could collect
the most ball caps. I quickly realized why there were no red caps to be
found on the boat.
1972, NMCB 10, 1975 NMCB
40, 1981-82 PWC
NAME = Ted Martinez (Marty)
MY QUEST = To go back
for a couple of weeks
VT of a SWALLOW =
E-MAIL = ttema49@aol.com
NATIONALITY = Hisp/Amer
SERVICE = U.S. Navy (Seabees)
UNIT = EO
RANK/RATE/JOB = After
24 years retired as EO1
MY INTEREST IN DG IS
= Want to Drink A Lot, Cheap
SUBJECT OF MY STORY:
= There I Was, Passed Out on The Beach
MY WARSTORY =
Love
My Tour
81-82, 82-83
NAME = Andrew Perkins
MY QUEST = stroll down
memory lane
VT of a SWALLOW = ?
E-MAIL = aperkins@simplynet.net
NATIONALITY = Oklahoma
SERVICE = NMCB62
UNIT = MLO, Satelite
Dining Facility
RANK/RATE/JOB = CE2
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 = I was there
in the last full battalion, and right back after home port in the last
detachment. I remember "Henry's Revenge", and was real surprized
when I got back with the detachment to see "new" hooches on that corner.
It was surprising the amount of damage a pan scraper could do to a hooch.
Since the main choices on the rock were to 1. get religeon, 2. become an alcholic, 3. become a fisherman, I got drunk and went fishing with a lot of the others. I remember, (I think) drinking a case of Bud a day, many days in a row. Since Jim Beam came in those nice bowling pin bottles, it was fun to rack the empty's up and bowl them down with coconuts. I have never forgotten the morning after head ache from drinking frozen Sangria, or a night drinking just plain Mojo. I don't think I would want to do that again.
I remember Alice's over by the laundry, and how disapointing it was to see it converted into the QD when we got back on the det.
I remember Ole Oleson
dressed up as Santa Clause in the back of a jeep throwing batallion christmas
card at morning quarters. I still have the patch, and have it framed
with my "A" school certificate.
1981
NAME = Joe Nihill
MY QUEST = I seek the
Holy Grail
VT of a SWALLOW = European
or African?
E-MAIL = joe.nihill@comcast.net
NATIONALITY = US
SERVICE = Military Sealit
Command, Indian Ocean
UNIT = USNS Mercury
RANK/RATE/JOB = Chief
Storekeeper
MY INTEREST IN DG IS
= Other
SUBJECT OF MY STORY:
= This is a No-Shit Fishing Story
MY WARSTORY = One night,
after analyzing the predatory habits of "Hector", myself and the Chief
Machinist set out to hook the beast. Having fashioned a nicely crafted
(and rather large) hook, we caught a nice grouper, sliced him open and
inserted the hook for the night's hunt. Having no other suitable
fishing line, we decided to use 1/2" manilla rope hooked up to one of the
aft deck winches. Right on schedule, at 21:30 hours, along he came
looking searching for any unfortunate and drunk that may have fallen off
the liberty launch. None to be had, he found his way to the bait
and, without hesitation, swallowed it whole. After about an hour
of fierce battle, including 5 rounds from a .30 carbine, we gave up - cutting
the line.
I am interested to know if anybody boated him or - hopefully to find out if he's still out there.
Joe Nihill
1981-1982
NAME = donald mount
MY QUEST = gse friends
VT of a SWALLOW = way
friggin fast
E-MAIL = namtd3033@adelphia.net
NATIONALITY = american
SERVICE = usn
UNIT = naf ground support
equip.
RANK/RATE/JOB = asm3
asm2
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 = remember
the raft the lagoon race?we [gse] came in 2nd.where are you guys?chief
g. ken porter jc?heres a {one that got away story}hector had been spotted
near the pol pier.got 5 gal. bucket of beef blood from the galley.along
with 2 ripe whole chickens.had been to pi for rnr and brought back ahook
as big as my arm.set up 2 jin poles on back of a 5 ton flatbed truck.tied
hook to steel cable baited the hook with bothchickens threw the bucket
of blood with holes punched in it out far enough for the outgoing tide
to carry sent the baited hook out let out abt 150'of cable. then commenced
to getting drunk.tj swan and san migle beer. wasent to long before line
got tight started singing then snapped like a high powered rifle.the 5
ton seemed to raise off the dock.by then i was higher than a georgia pine.did
we hook hector??? what a rush
1981-1982
Subject:
Sign me up!
Date:
Tue, 9 Aug 2005 22:05:06 -0400
From:
"Joe Nihill" <rnihill@comcast.net>
Stationed aboard USNS
Mercury (T-AKR-10) December 1981 - February 1982.
Best Regards,
Joe Nihill
81-82, 84-85
NAME = Wayne TJ Tajiri
E-MAIL = HLSChief@msn.com
NATIONALITY = Japanese-American
SERVICE = US Navy
UNIT = NCS - SatComm
RANK/RATE/JOB = First
tour- ETSN -to ET3, 2nd tour ET3 - ET2
MY INTEREST IN DG IS
= Stroll Down Memory Lane
SUBJECT OF MY STORY:
= This is a No-Shit Fishing Story
MY WARSTORY = During
my 2 tours there, I caught more GTs than anyone could shake 2 sticks @.
Going out on the reef off off of R site, and catching a good tide, and
catching/releasing GTs & large groupers one after another. One
night back in 82, when the liberty launches came to the floating dock right
in town, I fished there after the last launch ran. It was about 0100
when I started fishing. I kept 10 GTs (uluas & papios in Hawaii),
released 3 others, and lost about 6 other bites that I could not control.
The only other witness was a MAA that was making his rounds, but he was
cool & didn't kick me off the dock. (It was off limits to fishing).
I fought & landed all the fish solo, the largest for that night was
about 40 pounds. I gave most of the fish to the filipino contract
workers in the galley, trading for butter....I think. During my 2nd
tour, there was the Diego Burger RIGHT next to the NCS barracks.
Tony and his guys must have gotten 500 pounds of fish from me at least
during that tour. Diego Burger took real good care of me....
9/81 to 7/82
NAME = Donald Boatman
MY QUEST = Where's the
plane
VT of a SWALLOW = the
speed of coral filling up a TS/24 bowel
E-MAIL = driverdon60@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY = AMERICAN
USA
SERVICE = US NAVY SEABEE
NMCB-62
UNIT = alfa battalion
transportion
RANK/RATE/JOB = EO2 Aco
primary T.T. driver. Went my way after Guam 83
MY INTEREST IN DG IS
= Professional Adventurer Looking For The Ultimate Get Away
SUBJECT OF MY STORY:
= There I Was, Passed Out in My Room
MY WARSTORY = And yes
there I was asleep and EO2 rogers came into my bread box (what it seemed
like) woke me up,got to go see what henry did? sure enough dam drunk drove
a TS-24 scraper right into jenos hut!remeber it very well.Also big Brad
CM3 stole a jeep and drove it into the lagoon one night and some other
seabee drove a 5ton cement bulk tanker into the the lagoon one other time,As
I recall diego turned alot of people mad? So as I read from others olsen
made it to ADM what a crook.My time on diego wasn't all that bad but after
9.5 mths I didn't think I was ever going to leave ,best part was getting
a front row seat for the dallas cowboy cheer leaders and working the night
ship off loads and then trying to sleep and the darn CE'S kept turning
off the power during those hot days.Anybody hear from eo doug lewis or
jergeson?? carry on seabees.
Sept. 11th 1981- April
15th 1982
NAME = Daryl Hopkins
MY QUEST = The Big Pay
back!
VT of a SWALLOW = .21
E-MAIL = fourmutts4@aol.com
NATIONALITY = American
SERVICE = USN Seabees
UNIT = NMCB-Fighting
Forty
RANK/RATE/JOB = At the
time I was a BUCN I retired in 1996 on the T.E.R.A. Program as a BU2 after
15yrs 4 months.of service best decesion I ever made.
MY INTEREST IN DG IS
= Other
SUBJECT OF MY STORY:
= Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell
MY WARSTORY = How I survived
the rock, mostly playing softball fightingand drinking pretty much in that
order, I think my first fight involved the beat down of Wade Hoveys good
friend Ken Korzinowski. it involved short sheeting some racial slurs and
then the beatdown. ofcourse their good buddy skippy Baldwin coverd
for them i got restriction and extra duty but it was well worth it. to
many other brawls to tell. the softball was great the Forty Thrashers ruled
the whole time we were there I think our record was 56-9. One of the names
that will stand out in my mind forever is Tom Gillespie probably my closest
friend at the time. I wonder how many people remember the night the lights
went out and some fleeters rolled a jeep out near the runway. The weed
was being passede around that night PI purple hair if I can remember correctly.
As far as the rake incident that was mentioned in one of the above stories,
the guy didnt die his name was Mike Wyrick he may be dead now but he survived
the rake to the head but was slightly brain damaged. I do remember
the late night drunken bonfires and the mid-night coco nut raids on the
chiefs hut. And what the hell happened to Joe proctor, Andy Skoggs, Willie
Williams, Pat Bohrig, Mike Hawkridge or how about that fat ass and yes
I mean the fat assed Jeff Padfill, Eric Morales, Mike Hodorff, Big floyd
Parsons the welder I remember the tim Skippy Baldwin pulled a hot torch
out of floyds hand and burned his leg what an ass. Hey Ralph Corbelli How
you doin! so many names Rich ( pierre ) Carden, Rich Dees, Clinton Bogan,
Ponch the Skinny mexican american kidd are you still livin, Taco Attalino,
Daryl Bauer, Eddie Yapow, Rus Borman, Steve Henry, Paul Urtell, curtis
king, Tom Hale, Bill Penny, Tiny Montgomerey he was really hughe so many
names I cant remember so many more and you know who you are. How about
the chow hall at the time no real milk. and the beer was terrible I think.
I assume I drank the taste buds out of my mouth. but know they are back
and i havent slown down since. well if you know me get back at me.I wrote
this page before but it may have been a little to much I see it didnt make
it to print hopefuly this will. take care all and see you when I
see Ya!
D.HOP!
1981-1982
NAME = Vince Chaput
MY QUEST = Find old friends
VT of a SWALLOW = spit
E-MAIL = vchaput@comcast.net
NATIONALITY = western
american
SERVICE = NAVY
UNIT = NAF Crash crew/Transient
line
RANK/RATE/JOB = ABHAA
working class
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 = Would like
to find Edward William Plouff or Russell Macomber
1981-1982, 365 days, 11
hrs., 4 min.
NAME = Jim Anthony
MY QUEST = Tell your
readers about a place called Joe Mama's by the Beach
VT of a SWALLOW = 32
ft per sec.
E-MAIL = redman57@hotmail.com
NATIONALITY = USA
SERVICE = USN
UNIT = Air Field Operations
GEMD
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:
= There I Was, Passed Out on The Beach
MY WARSTORY = When a
group of us were living in tin roofed huts (hootches)and sending most of
our military pay to NFCU, we found drinking an absolutely must have. But,
expensive by island standards an the clubs that were run by iron fisted
CPO's, who were only interested in lining their pockets at our expense.
We therefore decided it was in our best interest to open our own club.
Rob Roy, Jake Botz, myself and several other hootch mates added an addition
to our hootch (Pictures to follow). It was a screen porch with palms built
in. The drinks cost 50 cents and beers were a quarter. The place was called
Joe Mama's by the Beach. We`were able to melt into an alcoholic haze and
ignore the bullshit that was constantly around us. This included an attack
by the coral reef and the resulting call to arms of 500 drunk SeaBees with
M16's in hand.
september 1981- september1982
NAME = Vince Chaput
MY QUEST = get back to
old friends
VT of a SWALLOW =
E-MAIL = vchaput@comcast.net
NATIONALITY = American
SERVICE = Navy
UNIT = Line crew/crash
crew air station
RANK/RATE/JOB = ABHAA
E-2
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 = Chief Gerber:
I pissed chief gerber off so bad he tried to drown me in the lagoon at
a bbq on the other side of the island where missy used to party with us.
After bieng late for my first time to work, I showed up still drunk from
the night before. Chief Gerber gave me 24 hours emi. after picking up cigarrette
buts for 8 hours I brought the bogus punishment up to senior chief Galvan
who in turn scolded chief gerber for such a cruel punishment for such a
small offense.Especialy since I covered the ass of the asshole who complained
about my tardyness after bieng late on a regular bassis with no repercussion.Since
that time gerber hated me so bad he would not let up on me.since he was
in charge of choosing my next duty station after my tour he thought he
would get back at me by sending me to a next tour in a place I didn't want
to go so again I went over his head and called my classifier via autovon
and picked my own duty station. When gerber found out it made him furious.Thats
when he chose the opportunity to try and drown me. If it wasnt for my boss
petty officer Sawyer I probably would have drouwned.
1981
NAME = Jim Phillips
MY QUEST = Fun
VT of a SWALLOW = About
50% of the square root of four times its term vel.
E-MAIL = jim485@hotmail.com
NATIONALITY = Aussie
SERVICE = na
UNIT = Cruising through
on a yacht
RANK/RATE/JOB = First
Mate
MY INTEREST IN DG IS
= Professional Adventurer Looking For The Ultimate Get Away
SUBJECT OF MY STORY:
= This is a No-Shit Sailing Story
MY WARSTORY = Well, there
we were, crossingg the Indian Ocean in a 47' steel yacht. I was with
my parents and a younger brother (9) and sister (1). I turned 11
the day after we left DG, so we were there anchored in the lagoon on the
23rd and 24th of August, 1981.
We had been sailing 10 days from the Cocos Islands and really wanted to
step ashore and stretch our legs, especially us kids. Even though
the authorities would not give us permission to go ashore, they did sell
us some fresh food. A US yacht also came in at the same time and
were treated the same way. I understand that now they totally discourage
even entering the lagoon.
Anyway we sailed north to Salomon Atoll and anchored for a week or two
at Boddam Island. There was a French yacht also there and two guys
living ahsore as modern-day Robin Crusoes. The ruins were all there
- cementery, church, manager's house, wrokshop etc. The fishing was
fantastic - we invited the French across for dinner and threw in the fishing
line as they arrived. And my brother and I found a shaded concrete
slab where we could use our skateboards. Unfortunately, one of the
Robin Crusoes (French from Djoubiti) fell 8 m out of a coconut tree and
broke his arm. With his written permission, we turned on our EPIRB
(not strictly correct, as it wasn't a life-threatening situation, but he
wanted to get help from DG). An hour after turning on the EPIRB,
a US warplane did two low flyovers directly over the beacon and at right
angles to each other. We then heard no more from them.
A couple of days later, we sailed over to Peros Bahnos and then off to
the Seychelles with the Frech guy and his broken arm.
I understand that now there are dozens of yacht anchored at Salomon and
Peros Bahnos and that the Brits process their paperwork fortnightly.
Quite different from the old days when we were all left on our own.
The German and French hermits had been there for 6 months living off the
lagoon with a sack of flour, a few tools and some fishing gear.
Before we arrived, other yachties had been telling us stories of the leftover
diesel on Peros Bahnos that had been abandoned after WWII. By the
time we arrived, however, there was one drum left with fuel but it had
been mixed with water, so we gave it a miss.
My memories are of a beautiful place. I plan to get back to those
northern islands someday. I feel quite sorry for the Ilois who got
booted out of the islands though. I wonder how the tsunami treated
the Chagos islands last week?
1981
NAME = Malcolm Swain
MY QUEST = to change
my email address to sellsell59@comcast.net
VT of a SWALLOW = infinite
at light speed
E-MAIL = sellsell59@comcast.net
NATIONALITY = US
SERVICE = Navy
UNIT = Aircrew, VP-48
RANK/RATE/JOB = AT2 then.
retired ATC now
MY INTEREST IN DG IS
= Professional Adventurer Looking For The Ultimate Get Away
SUBJECT OF MY STORY:
= Please Select a Title For Your Story, or Select 'Other'
MY WARSTORY =
Just want to change email
address to: sellsell59@comcast.net and cell# to (469)951-1742
Would love to hear from
anyone, especially former VP-48 members
1980 '81 and'82
NAME = wayde hovey
MY QUEST = try to get
back a few lost brain cells
VT of a SWALLOW = all
i know is it just ain't fast enough
E-MAIL = nmcb40cc@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY =
SERVICE = Navy
UNIT = nmcb40 charlie
co
RANK/RATE/JOB = got out
as a BU2 after Rota Spain dep
MY INTEREST IN DG IS
= My Time There is Lost in an Alcoholic Haze, Help Me Remember!
SUBJECT OF MY STORY:
= There I Was, Passed Out on The Beach
MY WARSTORY = hell we
were passed out all over the damn place had some of the best times
on that shitty little island got some great pics of our crew drunkards
everyone of them i'll scan some and post some if it's you in there give
me a shout most of my memories are lost in tomenting Tisue you know
what i mean i'll get those pics posted give a hollor ror an old drunkard
1981-1982
NAME = Fred Casebolt
MY QUEST = To get back
to the PI one day
VT of a SWALLOW = Depends
on what brand of booze your drinking
E-MAIL = fcasebolt@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY = US
SERVICE = Navy
UNIT = Tech Control
RANK/RATE/JOB = RM2
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 was drinking
heavily one evening with a bunch of friends and our Senior Cheif. We were
all shit faced and laughing it up outside the Cheifs barracks. Along comes
the CO (can't remember his name) I had been stationed at Navcomsta San
Miguel with him when he was the XO there. He walked up to me and poored
a beer over my head and said Merry Christmas asshole and walked away.
Well not to be out done and to take the dare laid down by all my friends
I walked over to him where he was talking to the good ol senior cheif.
I reached into the shit can full of beer and ice. Pulled out a beer opened
it and poured it over his head and said Merry Christmas Mother Fucker.
Well needless to say
the good ol senior cheif all most shit right there on the spot. (He had
not seen the beer being poured on me)
The CO laughed it off
and we all had a great time.
The best part was seeing the look on the senior's face.
Dec '81 - '83
NAME = McNeil, a.k.a."Mac"
MY QUEST = Find old friends
and acquaintances.
VT of a SWALLOW =
E-MAIL = lotlot66@prodigy.net
NATIONALITY = U.S.A.
SERVICE = U.S.N.
UNIT = NAF
RANK/RATE/JOB = AT-1
sept 81 thru may 82
NAME = Richard M. Carden Jr.
MY QUEST = just trying to rember the past
VT of a SWALLOW = who cares
E-MAIL = wild66tang2
NATIONALITY
= AMERICAN
SERVICE = SEEBEES
UNIT = NMCB 40 (det)
RANK/RATE/JOB = buca then,fresh out of a-school. Ret. in 96' as BU2
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 = Don't rember a lot from my time in/on hell. Do rember our
killer softball team. Two people who most stand out are Daryl Hopkins and
Tom Gulispie. These two made my time on DG a time to rember. Just wish
I could. I was there when women were first wecolmed on the island and I
recall a fight that broke out between two bees over a piece of tail and
one of them being airlifted off the island. Worked on the officers club
while I was there. Would love to go back and see how things have changed.
Anyone rember me, drop me a line. Would love to here from you.
1979 -1980 AND 1981 -
1982
NAME = Garland D. Evans
MY QUEST = Work
VT of a SWALLOW = 8,999 MPH
E-MAIL = nmseabee74@aol.com
NATIONALITY = Texas
SERVICE
= USN Seabees
UNIT = NAF and NMCB 74
RANK/RATE/JOB = Retired SWC
Jun 81 - Jun 82
NAME = Jack Nunes
MY QUEST = To recal what Beer they use to feed that Donkey!!
VT of a SWALLOW = Well when the first 50 woman arrived there was some spitters
and some swallowers.
E-MAIL = jnunes22@msn.com
NATIONALITY = US
SERVICE = USN
UNIT = Radioman C-Site...
RANK/RATE/JOB = E-1 when arrived, E-5 when departed.
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 = Several-
1st - Went home for christmas vacation, was bumped several times at Clark
AFB spent 2 weeks with RM3 Morris party'n, with no vacation charged to
us. Ran out of cash took a ride to Subic to get some cash then back to
Clark.
2nd - Out fishing in one of them small boats you rent, and engine goes
out, 2 of us stuck with 1 oar, anchored before we got sweept out to sea,
used shirts on fishing poles after a few hours, and one of the ships in
the harbor sent out a rescue boat.
3rd - Got laid on the island, not many could say that in 1982....
4th - First 50 woman to arrive, was a treat woman in t-shirts in the air
conditioned communication center, headlamps galore!! Sat through
my 1st sexual harrassment claim verses another RM, after he dumped his
girl.. Yawn.. Of course he was inocent.
5th - Due to timezone, when orders to leave island I passed up USS Lexington
(how did I know it was a training carrier). Got the USS Platte AO-186 out
of Norfolk, TTY school in San Diego, than off to New Orleans as Plankowner
on the Platte.
I remember buying one of the first VCR's on the island, cost $999, VHS
tapes were about $99, I am sure glad I bought the VCR and not the Beta
or whatever that other one was called.
Drank often, BBQ'd often, saw several USO shows, Pat Benatar etc, a bunch
of Navy chicks got arrested for selling the coochie in 1981, off the tendors.
1981
NAME = Bruce L Adler
E03 Also known as Taz
MY QUEST = Hi to anyone
from NMCB62
E-MAIL = bladler@prexar.com
NATIONALITY = American
SERVICE = Seabees
UNIT = a rock crusher
RANK/RATE/JOB = E03
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,
when E03 Henry drove through the hooch with the scraper, there was 6 of
us in there but luckily everyone made it out ok. Just wondering if anyone
else is out there that knows Mike Siney???
Oct 81 to Oct 82
NAME = Jeb Evans
MY QUEST = Enlightenment
VT of a SWALLOW = 786 kph
E-MAIL = jmevans@micropac.com
NATIONALITY = US; SERVICE = USN; UNIT = NAF AIMD; RANK/RATE/JOB = AT3
SUBJECT OF MY STORY: = There I Was, Passed Out in My Room
MY WARSTORY = Was literally passed out in my room the
night we were "invaded." I was told the next day that they tried
and tried to wake me to fight the "invaders", but couldn't. Not a proud
moment. We had some kind of division party that Friday night (that night
remains one of the three or four biggest drinking nights of my life). Was
19 then. Also remember waking up in the hooch with gecko lizards
walking around on me.
I remember this guy, who was about 25 at the time, (he claimed to hate
DG more than anyone) who was two weeks away from his year when he decided
that he had to have some lovin with this 18 year old kid who just got on
the island. He was in the process of getting into some big trouble for
that when I left for VA-22. Always wondered what happened to that
guy.
I was DG Oct 81 to Oct 82. Was NAF AIMD. Rate was AT3. Is it possible to
get an NAF patch (not NSF), or any other NAF stuff? I appreciate it. Thanks,
1981,1982
NAME = malcolm hargrave
VT
of a SWALLOW = who cares when they fall the fall
E-MAIL = malcolm@csplus.com
NATIONALITY = us
SERVICE = navy
UNIT = navcomtelsta
RANK/RATE/JOB = rm2
MY INTEREST IN DG IS = Other
SUBJECT OF MY STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell
MY WARSTORY = hi was there in 1981-end 1982, was at T site, and comsite,
I was there when they brought the first women there i stll have black and
whit photos, of when i was running the photo lab. I remeber
working at t site, and we were out on the beach during low tide, an we
found a foot, that was detached from a person then we found an arm, at
that point we had to call the base commander, i believe his name was Sisson,
we then had to get a report to subic, and send the pieces to be autosy,
come to find out possibly a big groper got one of the fillipinoe workers
that was fishing on the wrong restriced side of the island
1980 through 84.
ROB HODGES <hawkeye6936@attbi.com
See his 1980 entry...
I was there in 81/82 and
again in 83w/VP46 first full P3 deployment
NAME = Michael Dion
MY QUEST = To communicate
with NAF shipmates
VT of a SWALLOW = Depends
on the size of the mouthful
E-MAIL = M80on@hotmail.com
NATIONALITY = Me
SERVICE = The only 1,USN
UNIT = NAF AIMD AX3 then
2 DIFAR and MICRO-MINI Tech
MY INTEREST IN DG IS
= Want to Return When the First REAL Club Med Opens
SUBJECT OF MY STORY:
= I am a Born Liar, and Want To Tell About All The Sex I Had on Dodge
MY WARSTORY = OOOO69!
I wanted the Bingo caller but Kirk Bingoed first. I did eventually get
my 1 shot but I will save that info. I was known as the "Bus Driver" by
some, Marcel by others and as a non conformist in general. My first duty
station and my best, I think about the "Rock" nearly everyday though I
could not wait to leave while I was there. I was on watch the night the
hunk of coral was mistaken as the beginning of an attack by hostile forces
of the Mauritious military. I was ordered to drive the Dodge van {Cal Lab}
that was our main transpo, into town to pick up the Chief {Jasper Tolbert
Clark} and the Div. Officer. after picking them and several dept. personell
we went to the airfield and streched out down the ocean side of the runway
armed to the lips with, with, awww, a flashlight, OK? We were certain that
cammied commandoes would be coming over the "Scavvy" any second! Of course
it ended rather quickly when the Radar tech aboard one of the ships in
the lagoon realized his mistake! It was compounded when one of the Brit
police went to the other side of the Island to investigate and fell out
of radio contact for some reason and was thought to have been, I don't
know.. killed? It turned out that he had only meant to take a moonlight
drive in a jeep with a passenger of a sex contrary to his own. I had so
many friends there yet I have only recognized a few who have written here,
Karen Dufour, Dan Kell are two that I knew. I was also assigned to VP 46
when we made the first full P3 deployment to Diego. I was there for the
Quake, we had Tshirts printed with the details, 7.2 or 4 I do not remember
for sure. We called it the "Totally Tectonic Tricentennial" as it was the
first recorded Tectonic Plate shift in this part of the world in nearly
300 years. I have so many stories of this place including how I was there
the same time as my younger brother James Dion. I think we were the only
siblings there during our time. I worked for AFRTS during my off time operating
the Television board 3 nights a week I hated all of the PSA,s and I had
my own 2 hour radio show every Sunday night, "Portraits in Jazz with Marcel".
I loved Diego and I miss it everyday, any others feel this way? Thanks
so much for this site. I wish I had discovered this sooner. At this time
I am self employed as an Artist and a Junkman. I sell both!
1980, 1981, and 1982
NAME = Larry Ortega <AKAZILLA@AOL.COM>
see his 1980 entry
1981 VP-48 KadenA DEPLOYMENT
NAME = Malcolm Swain
MY QUEST = to find my
crew, Crew-6
VT of a SWALLOW = infinite
at light speed (186k mps)
E-MAIL = xman112259@aol.com
NATIONALITY = US; SERVICE
= USN; UNIT = VP-48 AIRCREWMAN; RANK/RATE/JOB = then, AT2 (IFT) now, ATC
retarded
MY INTEREST IN DG IS
= Professional Adventurer Looking For The Ultimate Get Away
SUBJECT OF MY STORY:
= This is a No-Shit Drinking Story
MY WARSTORY = There we
were, 3 days in Oman, 2 days in DG. Back and forth from DG to Oman, with
12-hr Mother%&**(()#'s every day in between. This went on forfukinever!
Every spare moment that wasn't crew resting or actually in the aircraft,
was spent in a drunken stupor, just dreaming about getting back to Cubi
ONE MORE TIME! Got real good at gettin' a tan and swimming drunk, damned
wonder the whole crew didn't drown. We once launched on
ready one and wound up
in Misawa after a RO1N in PI. It was in December and we froze our asses
off in Misawa, we all showed up there with surfing baggies under our flight
suits, UNBELIEVABLE, but true. This was VP-48 crew-6, call me , Aloha (214)
914-2201.
Jul 81- Jul 82
Armando A. Castaneda
<ArmandoCastaneda@aiitec.com>
NATIONALITY = U.S.; SERVICE
= USN; UNIT = SECURITY DEPT; RANK/RATE/JOB = CWO2 (7491); RETIRED (CWO4)1992
MY WARSTORY = I HAVE
NO WAR STORY TO TELL, HOWEVER, UPON READING THIS PAGE AND READING LENNY
GRINDSTAFF'S STORY I REMEMBERED ABOUT THE SEABEE WHO RAN THE LOADER INTO
THE HUT, THAT WAS NEAR THE MARS SHACK. CDR. OLIE OLSON RETIRED AS
AN ADM. I WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN SECURITY OFFICER ON THE ISLAND,
PRIOR TO MY ARRIVAL THEY (THE BRITS) HAD A ROYAL NAVY LT IN CHARGE OF SECURITY.
I WAS THERE WHEN THE COWBOY CHEERLEADERS WENT TO DG, AND WAS ALSO THERE
WHEN THE FIRST DETACHMENT OF FEMALES ARRIVED ON THE ISLAND. A COUPLE
OF DAYS AFTER THEIR ARRIVAL THERE WAS A FIGHT BETWEEN SOME SEABEES WHO
HAD FALLEN IN LUST WITH ONE OF THE FEMALES AND ONE OF THEM GOT HIT IN THE
EYE WITH A PIECE OF REBAR. HE WAS SENT TO SINGAPORE FOR MICRO SURGERY.
GOOD TO SEE YOUR PAGE. BRINGS BACK MANY MEMORIES FROM FRIENDS AND
NEIGHBORS.
1981
NAME = Rowdy Doughty
MY QUEST = To stay out
of the water!
VT of a SWALLOW = Depends
on what is chasing it!</