|
1987-1988
Gerald (Jerry) Hannah = RetNavyCPO1985@yahoo.com
Citizenship = USA
Service = Contractor
My_Quest = Food Service Manager
My_Warstory = After retiring from the Navy I landed a job
on Diego Garcia through a good friend of mine Don Tetley, he was ready
to leave
and suggested me for his replacement. 1986-1988. I was the Food Service
Manager
in charge of the Galley and Multa Million Dollar Warehouse where Fresh,
Frozen
and Dry Provisions were stored. I provided for the Galley, Clubs,
Prepositioning Ships, American Battle Groups, and American Embassies in
Mauritius and Somalia. Every so often I would have to catch a C-141 and
fly to
the Embassies to check on there provisions to see if they were happy
with what
they were receiving and if there was anything I could do to improve
service. It
was usually during a time when they were drawing Provisions. I really
liked
this job, but it came to an end when a British firm got the contract.
So I went
to Saudi Arabia for three years to join my friend again, Don Tetley.
Which is
another story...
1986-87
George Marshall = gmarshlv@yahoo.com
Citizenship = USA
Service = Contractor
Outfit = New Car Sales
My_Warstory = I was the Chrysler/Jeep rep first time (
'86-'87) out, and same plus Ford last time (91-94); since I am a
retired CPO
and a GS I hung out at any club that would have me (and a
charter/honorary
member of the no-longer-there E6 Club). I
volunteer announced softball games & SpecServ
events, and even
bowled. My war stories would have to
include, but not be limited to the many friends from COs to Seamen that
I made
on The Footprint. Stories to come!
27th june 1984 up to 30 th nov 1992
Name = Kaisynaden C. Pillay (KC)
submit_by = kaisy63@hotmail.com
Citizenship = Mauritian
Other_Country = Mauritian
Service = Contractor
Other_Service = FEBROE & IPAC
Outfit = COMMUNICATION DEPT BOS CONTRACTOR
My_Quest = wants to hear from friends who had known me .
VT_of_a_Swallow = dont know
My_Warstory = HAD A VERY GOOD TIME ON THE ISLAND.
87-88
Name = Rob Gallagher
submit_by = robland1967@hotmail.com
Citizenship = USA
Service = USN
Outfit = R-Site / ASWOCC
My_Quest = Read the other stories, figured I'd contribute
VT_of_a_Swallow = um.. felate me?
My_Warstory = Boozer: Baccardi 151. Tormentor of Ming. He man woman
hater's club member.
Got bet that I couldn't drink all 28 cocktails at the Expat club in one
setting without passing out or throwing up. That was the hardest $40 I
ever made.
Had a great time with Jimbo, Woody, Ken, Gail, Eric, Brent, Mike,
Marty, Blake and others I'm too sober now to remember.
Chased down and slew the Melontally. Nailed the aerobics instructer.
Ruined my own 21st birthday toga party by drinking the punch with my
head submerged in the cooler (apparently this disgusted everyone else).
Got so drunk on one occaision that the above mentioned group convinced
me I'd slept with an enormous rm chick. Let me suffer through it the
whole god damned day at turtle cove before letting me off the hook.
Damn I miss that place. Truly the birth place of debauchery and
decadence.
I'm quite certain I wouldn't be half the sarcastic smartass I am today
without the rock.
IS
David George Roy McNeilly Jr. <roymcneilly@yahoo.com>
is looking for his OS friends from the PATWING ONE DET: Keith Marth, Jose Coronado, Jaqueline
Serrano and Ensign Becky Roberts.
From: John
Springer (1986-1988 and 1990-1991) <johnnyfulvia@tampabay.rr.com>
First, let me compliment you on your superb
site. It is
absolutely fabulous! Your people-finding feature is the best and I just
discovered some folks I hadn't heard from in years.
Now I am looking for a couple of old buddies
that I lost contact with. They are STEVE RILEY AND STEVE HAWKINS, both Navy helo
pilots who served on Diego between 1986-87. I would very much
appreciate it if you could put my mesage
in your website. Thanks and keep up the brilliant work.
1987
Mark Morwse
<monkeypoxtea@yahoo.com>
What a great trip
down
memory lane !!!
I spent a couple
weeks
on Diego Garcia in Aug 87 while building up RH53D for amcm ops with
HM14
waiting to catch our ride to the Gulf for Earnest Will.
Last call for
women
&
wine until Bahrain (alcohol support unit).
I agree, tropical
paradise....
Unfortunate that
the
natives were displaced for the most part, but I have also had land
taken
by municipalities under "eminent domain" while living in VA Beach USA.
I would be
honored to
be considered for citizenship in the PPRODG.
Deeply honored.
p.s....I believe
There
was a stick in HM14 named Ted Morris, I believe he went on to CO,
seemed
like a decent guy from the limited dealings I had.
Would that be you
?
[Sorry,
nope. He sounds like a great guy, with that name and all...]
I believe he had
a
problem
with a detached retina during deployment.
Also remember Ted
"designated
driver" Kennedy coming aboard and nobody cared to speak with him,
Barbara
Eden and Bob Hope, Connie Stevens & slutty daughters (God bless
'em)
and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders among others. (Played chess v. Lee
Greenwood
)
I am grateful for
the
JCS sending me on that sojourn.
Regards,
Mark A. Morse
Logistics Officer
46th Adirondack
Seaplane
Squadron (Light Attack)
Tasked with
harvesting
deer, bear, trout and bass from the 46 high peaks region.
1985 and 1987
NAME = EN2 Carol
Unruh-Raykowski
E-MAIL =
jellyrowl@sbcglobal.net
NATIONALITY =
caucasian
SERVICE = Navy
UNIT = USS Jason,
AR-8
RANK/RATE/JOB =
Engineman
Second Class, Assigned to Jason's repair small boat, diesel marine
systems,
injectors. For a short time, assigned to Repair
Officer, then to
overhaul
Repair Departments Library
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
was
fascinated
by the deep blue water and I loved the solitude and seclusion of
DG.
I volunteered to help clear the cemetary, went fishing for a day,
received
my Marksman ribbon there and above all, the drinks were only $.75 and
you
still got a full shot! For special or quick turnaround repairs I
performed, I would be bought so many drinks, that they were lined up
sometimes
5 or 6 deep. It took forever to get the fried rice dinners I
would
order, so stayed drunk most of the time and lost plenty of
weight.
I saw many shipmates crash and burn on that island. I was
lucky--just
didn't get caught I suppose. I often speak of my time there (3
months
both times)with a smile on my face. I had a great time! We
worked hard and we played hard! We even became special friends of
the American Cormorant shipmates. They treated us like
royalty.
With the stresses, bills, debts, and responsibilities of today (20
years
later), I wish I could runaway. And I would run to Diego
Garcia.
I miss everyone I came in contact with while there. LOL shipmates!
May 1987-May
1988
NAME = Christina
Dugan
MY QUEST = Trip
down
Memory lane
E-MAIL =
cgunderson3@hotmail.com
SERVICE = Navy
UNIT = T-Site
RANK/RATE/JOB = I
was
an E3 when I got there and made thrid class. I'm in the reserves 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 =
Well, I
have many stories to tell, I just can't remember a lot of details..but
I do remember my friend Pineapple George. The wonderful guys up on the
balconey holding the signs up. Russell Sitz was a very dear friend of
mine
and he has since passed. Yes, Richard Rice, Jim and Tim..I remember you
too!!! We had lots of pictures by the Big 8 ball house, Yes, its
true, there was a big 8 Ball outside. Of course there is Dawne, Randy1
and Randy2..and I met my first husband there. I also remember Bill, I
think
that was your name..you filmed a commerical of the XPAC club, think we
even kissed in it. I do know that I drank a lot there..that's probably
why I can't remember a lot to this day..but I did have fun there..I do
remember my roommate went UA and had everyone investigated..long story
there..share it with you all later...and then I had some room mates
that
were not very friendly that worked at the C-site..oh well...there were
a lot of good people. Would like to find some of the great Chiefs I
knew
and worked for. This I will never forget, my friend Dawne and I were
sunbathing
in the buff out by the T-site, hadn't even been drinking much..I went
to
open a champange bottle and got the cork in my eye..spent five days
there
in the hospital and I was lucky I still have by sight but I do have
problems..they
couln't medivac me out because of the pressure in the
plane..Well..that's
it for now..Thanks for the fun times!!!!!
1984-1989
Alejandro Canasa
<larry_canasa@yahoo.com>
Dear Ted,
I think the photo
of
the hidden man is of William Harrington a.k.a Bill Harrington the
Harbor
Opeerations Manager, and John Springer is the Personnel Manager of
FEBROE,
my boss... I am the guy who prepares travel papers to anybody
employed
by the company whether they are being kick out of the island or taking
R&R. I am from Annex 02 Im checking for some pictures to send
during
my stint at Diego Garcia from 1984 to 1989
Larry Canasa
FEBROE Travel
Specialist
sometime in
1987
NAME = Jack Webb
MY QUEST = I was
making
my way back to the USS kansas city after missing ships movement at the
subic.
VT of a SWALLOW =
couldnt
tell you but i did swallow a lot of wild turky for the two day i laid
over
there.
E-MAIL =
jakofdust@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY =
American
SERVICE = USN
UNIT = just
passing
though
on my way to the USS kansas city AOR-3
RANK/RATE/JOB =
E2
soon to be E1 how ever i did get back up to E4 before my time was up.
MY INTEREST IN DG
IS
= Stroll Down Memory Lane
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY:
= This is a No-Shit Drinking Story
MY WARSTORY =
there
were
four of us, we started drinking at several bars in the barrio at subic
finnally ending up at mindas bos,n locker which was where we decided we
would stay a little longer than the ship, well 14 days later we were
picked
up by the OPM (thank god) as there had been an atempt to overthrough
the
government which made travel difficult, anyway after a 3 day stay at
the
cross bar hotel (the brig) they bused us to clark AFB where we flew to
the beautiful island of day gar (diago garcia) ,upon arrival we all
crashed,
sense there hadnt been much sleep the last couple of days. the
next
mornig i met Al,who showed me the main island activity,drinking, so me
and Al and his roommate polished off 2 bottles of wild turky. The next
morning early i was supposed to get on a plane and somehow i did, but i
still dont know how, when i came to i was at al maser Oman. well thats
my story and im stickin to it. just a passer by.
86-88
NAME = Debi
Manning
then
- Wittrock now
MY QUEST = Try
and fill
in the blanks left by too much booze!
VT of a SWALLOW =
Don't
know, Don't care
E-MAIL =
Debi720@Yahoo.com
NATIONALITY = US
SERVICE = USN
UNIT = Medical
Clinic
RANK/RATE/JOB = I
was
an HM2 back then- Pediatric RN and mom of 4 now
MY INTEREST IN DG
IS
= Stroll Down Memory Lane
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY:
= Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell
MY WARSTORY = I
loved
Dodge- and fell in love on Dodge (OK, I fell in lust quite a few times
too)
I married
Chris
"Topsy"
Turner on Cannon Point, in fact I jsu saw one of my wedding pictures.
Sadly,
that didn't last, but good memories do!
I had a blast
drinking
a 6 pack of Blue Nun with Father Ted, - Meetings at "The Bench", BBQ's
on the pier, parties at the Brit Club and the Dive Locker.... (In a
weird
twist if fate my second (And current and last) hubby was on ther Navy
Skeet
shooting team with Johnny "JJ" Johnson for the Dive Locker!)
Much has been
lost
to
the haze of San Miguel, Bat-Shit, and Red Horse, but this sight has
helped
me remember more and more!
I'd love to
hear
from
anyone who remembers!
Feb 1987
NAME = Mike Birch
MY QUEST =
VT of a SWALLOW =
E-MAIL =
mpbirch@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY = US
SERVICE = USN
UNIT = NSGD
RANK/RATE/JOB =
CTT1
(Ret)
MY INTEREST IN DG
IS
= Want to Drink A Lot, Cheap SUBJECT OF MY STORY: = Actually, I Have a
Real Story To Tell MY WARSTORY = Was there for 2 or 3 weeks in
early
Feb 1987. Flew in on a Monday from Norfolk via Italy & Athens on a
contract flight. The next Monday when the flight came in something
happened
after the passengers deplaned. Somehow, someway the nosegear collapsed
and the plane sat a couple of days nose-down on the tarmac. As the
story
goes, the pilot & a flight attendant were in the cockpit "checking
out the instruments" and somebody hit the wrong button/lever/etc and
the
rest is history. I actually have a couple of pictures of the plane nose
down on the tarmac (albeit from a distance.)
On the
same
trip,
one the night of departure, my fellow travelers and I were at the CPO
club
having a couple of nourishing beverages. We were in the company of then
AGC Ken Oakley. The duty weather-person was to pick us up at around 9pm
for the short trip to the plane. 9pm came and went and still no duty
weather-person/driver.
We started to get concerned when it got to be 10 and the 10:30. Our
fears
were laid to rest when Ken (quite loudly) stated, "Listen you pukes, I
am the head weather weenie on this $$@&&# island and nothing
flies
until I give it weather clearance!" So, we drank some more and were
deposited
at the foot of the stairs, boarded and then plane immediately departed.
Great TAD!!!
1987-1988
NAME = Kelly Lewis
MY QUEST = eye
drops
in my third eye
VT of a SWALLOW =
...enough
to hurt somebody.
E-MAIL =
kelso@stx.rr.com
NATIONALITY =
Euroserious?
SERVICE = USN
UNIT = Navy
Broadcasting
Detachment
RANK/RATE/JOB =
JOSN
MY INTEREST IN DG
IS
= Other
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY:
= Other
MY WARSTORY = I
have
no epic event to share. But I do recall the names on this screen
as I scroll down. So often I think about this island, more so for
the
dynamics in
relationships
that ultimately taught -and, still, teach me- things about myself. This
was as close to living on a sub as I can imagine.
There are
stories I
might
add later, but it's the good people, or the good that came out in some,
one I hope I can speak to here:
Tom Walsh,
thanks
for
swapping ships with me outta there. May and I have been together
for almost twenty years, and I'll always remember you for this act of
kindness.
Oct 1987 to
Oct 1988
NAME = Sean
Tressler
MY QUEST = Trip
down
amnesia lane
VT of a SWALLOW =
Depends
on what's being swallowed and who is swalling it
E-MAIL =
stressler@cableaz.com
NATIONALITY =
American
SERVICE = Navy
UNIT = Naval
Security
Group
RANK/RATE/JOB =
CTT3
at the time. Left Navy after completing 4 years of service in
1990.
Worked in the IT field ever since.
MY INTEREST IN DG
IS
= Want to Return When the First REAL Club Med Opens
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY:
= Other
MY WARSTORY =
I've seen
shit in paradise...
DG was my favorite duty station during my 4 years in the Navy.
Being
a cyclist from Pennsylvania, I loved the perfect riding conditions
year-round.
Who cared about riding in the rain, it wasn't cold. The island
was
beautiful, everyone on island was like family, my friends were the
best,
and it was an all around day-to-day good time.
Not all was perfect, though. Buying those phone cards and
watching
them tick down as you rambled through your conversation was never
fun.
It pretty much sucked the moral boost right out of the call. It
was
terrible not having real milk to drink - except during Thanksgiving and
Christmas. I was also engaged while on DG. The long
distance
separation was too hard on our relationship, and we broke up when I got
back home to PA in October of 1988. So in a way, DG was the best
and worst of times for me as a young 20 year old. However, the
engagement
story does have a happy ending. We got back together at our 10
year
high school reunion in 1995 and got married in 1996. We moved to
Arizona in 1997 and had a son in 2002.
I miss my days on DG. They seemed so easy and carefree. The
only responsibility was going to work, and even that was a good time
with
the group
I was privileged
to
serve
with. The rest of the time was spent being outside - doing
whatever
- as long as it was outside. Yes, I did drink and got drunk for
the fist time
while on
DG. At least it was cheap, and it prepared me for my follow-on
orders
to Adak (as happened to so many of us CTT types at that time).
Wish I
would have
stayed in Dodge!!!
1987
NAME = JAMES RAPP
MY QUEST =
Infinite
Mortality
VT of a SWALLOW =
1ft
per second
E-MAIL =
hamrhead2000@aol.com
NATIONALITY =
U.S.A.
SERVICE = USMC
UNIT = MCSFCO
RANK/RATE/JOB =
E3 then
Civiliam Law Enforcement Now
MY INTEREST IN DG
IS
= Stroll Down Memory Lane
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY:
= There I Was, Passed Out in the Club
MY WARSTORY =
When I
first arrived on the Rock Marine Corps Security Force Company was on
high
alert due to some chowder head Lance Corporal discharging his weapon
and
reporting it as Rusian Special Forcing envading the island or some
crap.
I arrived D.G. and was greated by Corporal ZAP and Sgt. Marvelis who
picked
me up and drove me back to the Barracks. Major Forte was CO and
Capt.
Landersman was XO. My first couple of weeks was spent in the
barracks
under alert for no reason at all.
I was there
during
the
Marine COrps change of Command to Major Mead and sat through a base
Change
of COmmand cerimony as well. I was the Companies Legal Specialist
and did a lot of snorkling with the Navy and played a lot of beach
volly
ball and spent a good amount of time in the field doing grunt training.
It was like
being in
prison
for a year but still all in all a lot of fun. I remember being
blitzed
at the Marine COrp Ball while the CO was giving his presentation I
unleashead
my 5th bottle of wine and sent the cork fpopping and flying across the
room. Like many nights I left that night in a total haze.
Anyone remeber
me or
anything
I am talking about feel free to give me a e-mail.
W. James Rapp
hamrhead2000@aol.com
1987
Date:
Fri, 19 Aug 2005 16:45:08 -0700
From:
"Mike Allen" <mike_allen@sonnen.com>
Hi I served on
the USS
CONSTELLATION during the late 80 I believe 87 or so we were escorting
the
Iranian tankers in the Persian gulf. We landed at Diego Garcia
and
anchored moved most of the crew to shore and then proceded to launch
air
craft while at anchor the first carrier to do this we may have also
been
the only carrier to have done this. For those of us with the privilege
(chuckles to myself) our time was spent drinking old very old and it
tasted
like it beer it was Olympia we also managed to piss off the chickens
all
couple hundred of them and for the next couple weeks we all suffered
from
sunburns
Mike Allen
DOWNHILLDOG@SBCGLOBAL.NET
USS CONSTELLATION
85-90
RM3
Subject:
Diego Garcia Nov 87 - Dec 88
Date:
Tue, 3 May 2005 16:31:25 -0700 (PDT)
From:
"f.s. webb" <fswebb@yahoo.com>
In my 13 months
on the
island, my time was split between the Chief's club and the Expat club
but
our paths might have crossed seeing I was there in early
(and late) 1988.
Diego Garcia is
an
absolutely
gorgeous island - even with all of the rain. I'm not sorry I went
but I was really glad to see the Philly airport in December
1988!
I think that this
site
is a hoot and plan on spending some time here!
Regards,
AGC Florence Webb
USN RET
1986-1988
4months on
4months
off
NAME = Dave
Koppenhofer
MY QUEST = to try
to
restore memories
VT of a SWALLOW =
African
or European and are they carring coconuts
E-MAIL =
dkoppyus@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY =
American
SERVICE = USN
UNIT = VRC-50 Det
B
RANK/RATE/JOB =
AZAN
My job shave my facial hair or LT Vreeland will write you up, Pickard
(inside
joke)
MY INTEREST IN DG
IS
= Stroll Down Memory Lane
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY:
= I am a Born Liar, and Want To Tell About All The Sex I Had on Dodge
MY WARSTORY = who
did
Mary first???????????????? Who bought the last case of San Miguel on
Wednesday,
I do have some video and pictures from Dodge, DGAR, the rock or
whatever
your crew called it.
87 to 88
NAME = Russell
Flagg
E-MAIL =
russell_flagg@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY = US
SERVICE = Navy
UNIT = Medical
unit
RANK/RATE/JOB =
HM3
Preventive
Medicine Tech 8432 with island Naval medical unit
MY INTEREST IN DG
IS
= Stroll Down Memory Lane
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY:
= Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell
MY WARSTORY = The
first
night I spent on DG was eventful because some of the medical unit
wanted
to go "bugging" out near airport beach. Not being familiar with
the
term -- I said sure. Well, bugging is the term used to catch
lobster
(which are considered loyal British subjects) by taking a flashlight
and
searching the shallows for their red eyes.
We were very successful in finding these "bugs" by the duffle-bagful
while
the beer and wine flowed. We de-tailed them and were on our way
back
from the airport at a high rate of speed (50+) on the only stretch of
road
that is 35mph. We were pulled over by the Brits (not a good way
to
start the year).
The people that were accompanying me on this adventure said to cover
the
bugs and not say a word to the Brits that we had them on-board.
Lucky
for us -- the driver knew the Brit (Drinking buddy -- big surprise
there!!)
and we were chastised a bit but let go without much else.
Later -- I learned from my companions that the loyal British subjects
we
were eating were about a $500.00 fine and a few days in jail if the
magistrate
felt so inclined. I choked and ate the rest of the lobsters with
the "gang" of outlaws.
We caught and ate many of the crabs (coconut crabs are stringy and dry
-- by the way), fish (Wahoo and tuna) and anything else that looked
tasty.
There were other treats the Navy never told us about while there --
Hash-House-Hounds,
Sailing, Biathlons, Plantation visits and invading the opposite side of
the island with the marines while checking tuberculosis tests in the
landing
craft (it just keeps on coming).
I had fun...
Any other
corpsman of
the time -- please write.
8432 Preventive
Medicine
Technicians especially...
Russ (Rat Man)
Flagg
1984 1989
NAME = Jean
Roland Noel
E-MAIL =
rolandnoel@bigpond
com .au
NATIONALITY =
mauritian
australian
UNIT = febroe bos
contractor
working as janitor houssekeper
RANK/RATE/JOB =
now am
working as a nursing assistant in australia
MY INTEREST IN DG
IS
= Want a Job as Far Away from My Wife as Possible
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY:
= There I Was, Passed Out on The Beach
MY WARSTORY
=
Yes there i was cleaning the toilet making your bed from 1984 to 1989
while
you were here and there traning or fighting
April
1985-July
1985,
Nov87 - Dec87
NAME = Mike
Richardson
MY QUEST = To
find that
ever elusive C-141 flying in with fresh San Miguels
VT of a SWALLOW =
African
or European?
E-MAIL =
pemdas03-fatchance@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY =
'Mercan
SERVICE = USN
UNIT = VP-4
Skinny
Dragons
RANK/RATE/JOB =
then
AD3, decided to part ways with the Navy in 1991
MY INTEREST IN DG
IS
= My Time There is Lost in an Alcoholic Haze, Help Me Remember!
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY:
= I am a Born Liar, and Want To Tell About All The Sex I Had on Dodge
MY WARSTORY = I
woke
up in a room, pants-less, with a beautiful (even by Diego
Standards)young
lady. I'm still not too sure what transpired.
Anyway....There I was sitting in my TDY assignement awaiting orders to
Hawaii, when I got a change in orders. I was to join VP-4 in Dodge
mid-deployment.
Easy enough right? Wrong.
The plane, a C-141 was to meet me in Norfolk then fly several of us
including
a team of civilian barnacle divers to Diego via France or some other
European
nation. As we were preparing to depart, war broke out in Chad. This
delayed
us a couple of days while the powers that be sorted things out.
Eventually, we were told that we were going to be departing, but that
there
would be a slight change in our itinerary. We would be travelling West,
not East.
We boarded our 141 and flew immediately to New Jersey. We needed a new
windshield we were told. After what seemed like hours, we departed for
Travis AFB where the crew needed crew rest. THe following morning
we departed or Hickham AFB where we sat around as a crew replaced a
couple
of our engines. Thrilling.
After another seemingly interminable delay for flight checks and the
other
assorted tasks of changing an engine or two, we were again on our way.
We eventually landed at Anderson AFB where again we needed to stop for
crew rest. As we landed in the morning, billiting was not offered
to the passengers. We were allowed to shower after much
complaining.
That afternoon, we departed for the Phillipines and Clark AFB. By
this time, the crew was getting suspicious of us plotting a mutiny and
kept us locked in the air terminal while we re-fueled.
We then took off for the final leg of our journey arriving in Dodge
around
7 or 8 AM. As we had been advised, we were all travelling in
civilian
attire and technically hadn't bathed/shaved in about 2 days since early
AM in Guam. I got a ride to the VP4 duty office where some 2nd
class
decided this was a good time to teach me about military courtesy.
I advised him that his lecture would go a lot further after I had a
chance
to sleep and get cleaned up. I explained to him that I had been on a
plane
for nearly 5 days and wasn't exactly interested in anything but a place
to sleep lieing down, on a bed.
The rest of the detachment is colored in formaldehyde flavored beer. I
do remember the base restricting our squadron to the barracks for the
Fourth
of July because we were scheduled to depart around the 5th or
6th.
Somehow rumors got started about potential Biot Riots!
Did I mention the World Airways plane that arrived to rescue us from
Dodge
broke down? Our electricians had to repair/recharge the battery
just
so we could get the hell off that rock. In exchange for helping
them
help us, we drank every drop of alchohol on that bird.
I could tell I pissed someone off a couple years later when I awoke
from
a PI induced drunken stupor to find my ass back on the island for a
second
time.
ON AND OF FROM
1985
TO
1988
NAME = RICHARD M.
RICE
MY QUEST = TO
SHARE
SOME
GREAT TIMES I HAD ON THE FOOTPRINT OF FREEDOM
VT of a SWALLOW =
DEPENDS
ON WHAT YOU SWALLOW!
E-MAIL =
POORRICE@COX.NET
NATIONALITY =
AMERICAN
SERVICE = U. S.
NAVY
RET.
UNIT = PERSONNEL
SUPPORT
SERVICES MANAGER
RANK/RATE/JOB =
RETIRED
SHCM FROM USN AND THEN WORKED FOR CIVILIAN CONTRACTOR ON DG
I WAS WITH THE
ORIGINAL
CONTRACTOR THAT TOOK OVER THE BOS CONTRACT.
I HAD THE SHIP'S
STORE,
LAUNDRY, BARBER SHOP, TAILOR SHOP, BEAUTY SHOP.
MY INTEREST IN DG
IS
= Stroll Down Memory Lane
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY:
= Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell
MY WARSTORY = I
HAVE
MANY FOND MEMORIES OF THE YEARS I SPENT ON DIEGO GARCIA, BUT A SHORT
ONE
FOLLOWS:
THERE WAS A GROUP OF US EX-PATS THAT HAD QUARTERS ON A CORNER THAT WAS
LOCATED IN AN AREA THAT THE FEMALE INHABITANTS HAD TO PASS TO GET TO
AND
FROM THEIR QUARTERS. WE HAD A COUPLE OF UPSTAIRS UNITS AND A FEW
DOWN STAIRS UNITS. OUR UNITS ALL HAD REFRIGERATORS WELL STOCKED
WITH
WHATEVER, BEER, WINE BOOZE,ETC.
WELL WE GOT INTO THE HABIT OF CHEERING THE LADIES AS THEY PASSED AND
HOLDING
UP SIGNS WITH A NUMERIC VALUE FROM 1 TO 10. OF COURSE WE ALWAYS OFFERED
THEM REFRESHMENTS. IT WAS GREAT FUN FOR AWHILE AND WE MET SOME
PRETTY
NICE GALS. BUT OF COURSE SOME BULL DYKES TOOK OFFENCE AND OF
COURSE
THE COMMAND STRUCTURE HAD TO TAKE ACTION. THAT ENDED THAT PHASE OF FUN.
I DO NOT KNOW IF THE SWIMING POOL STILL HAS ALL THE SIGNS IT USED TO
BUT
WE CALLED IT THE "NO" "NO" POOL BECAUSE OF ALL THE SIGNS THAT STARTED
WITH
NO. POSTED AT THE ENTRANCE. WE WERE AMAZED THEY LET YOU
SWIM
IN IT.
BY THE WAY I DID NOT LEAVE VOLUNTEERLY, I WAS MEDIVACTED WITH A HEART
CONDITION
IN FEB 1988. I REALLY HAD A GREAT TIME WHILE WORKING ON DG, MY
ONLY
GRIPE WAS IT WAS SO FAR TO A LIBERTY PORT.
ALL THE BEST
RICHARD
(DICK) RICE
P.S. DID THIS
EARTHQUAKE
IN INDONESIA DO ANY HARM TO MY BELOVED ISLAND.
July 87 - July
88
HARRY GOMM
<harry@gomm1.freeserve.co.uk>
Brit
MY QUEST = The
answer
at the bottom of the glass
VT of a SWALLOW
=
depends on 4.5in or 6in shell or the amount of semtex used
NATIONALITY =
BRIT;
SERVICE
= ROYAL NAVY; UNIT = customs/sometime brit rep chef
MY INTEREST IN DG
IS
= want to drink lots cheap
MY WARSTORY
=
does
ted remember his leaving party at the beach hut(i think)and being got
on
the 3 man lift and later on as part of a lancaster bomber(sorry ted)
but
it was good fun. [editor's note: Yes, I remember. And yes,
it was all in good fun. Thanks for bringing back the memories
Harry!]
Here's Harry
(on the
far
right) after a Cricket match against the crew of the USS JASON in 1987
or 1988:
1987 thru 1990
NAME = Mel
MY QUEST = To Remember 2 aquaintences that died there.
VT of a SWALLOW = I ain't know!
E-MAIL = melv@charleston.net
NATIONALITY = american; SERVICE = contractor; UNIT = Big Red
MY INTEREST IN DG IS = Want to Drink A Lot, Cheap
SUBJECT OF MY STORY: = This is a No-Shit Fishing Story
MY WARSTORY = I want to remember 2 friends that passed away while
working
at DG in 1988. First, Mr Lester Jones, who worked for the Base
Operating
Support facility contractor; FEBROE. He took R&R and flew to Clark
to be with his girlfriend. He drank to much Redhorse and ate too much
Pancit,
passed out and choked on his own puke. He was a good friend of mine, my
snorkeling buddy. We shared some dangerous ocean side and night time
snorkeling
adventures. The last thing I said to him was, "Have fun, but Control
yourself!"
(I said that a lot back then as if I had any self control myself.) He
never
returned to DG. They packed him out, I never did.
Then there was Mr. Ramon Chew, a Filipino leadman at the harbor control
center. He suffered a stroke and died. It took all the ice from all the
ice machines on the Island to keep him cold until they could arrange a
flight back to the PI. From what I heard FEBROE gave his wife an extra
month pay for her suffering. He was a T.C.N.(Third Country Nationalist)
He earned about 500 dollars per month, Big Deal!
I turned 30 at DG, and will never forget the good times or the bad.
1983, 1984,
1986,
1987,
1991, 1992, 1993
NAME = Dave (K9) Hardy (nice picture of me!) ed note: on http://www.zianet.com/tedmorris/dg/brits.html
MY QUEST = For you to contact me
VT of a SWALLOW = |African or European?
E-MAIL = Linda.Hardy@amserve.net
NATIONALITY = Brit
SERVICE = ROPO
UNIT = K9
RANK/RATE/JOB = Ex-ROPO ex-RN (Royal Navy) now merchant navy. Yes
I have just returned from the Gulf as well.
MY INTEREST IN DG IS = Decided to Join A Monastery, But Couldn't Find
One
Stateside
SUBJECT OF MY STORY: = I'd Like to Share Precious Memories of
Drinking/Fishing/Snorkeling/Sailing
on Diego Garcia
MY WARSTORY = Been there, seen it, done it, couldn't get a t-shirt 'cos
you had already bombed the placed out.
\regards \\k9
\\dave hardy
1987-88
NAME = Max Tilton
MY QUEST =
VT of a SWALLOW =
E-MAIL = cynde@ellensburg.com
NATIONALITY = us
SERVICE = nmcb4
UNIT = Aco mechanic shop
RANK/RATE/JOB =
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 = I worked at the marina on weekends when there.We had just
got the 24 foot san jaun sailboats. We also got some boston
wallers
made for long shaft motors, typical navy they ordered short shaft
motors
for the boats. So we cut them down so we could use them. I rember some
of the best fishing ever,thank god because the food at the chow hall
was
unfit esp. the milk.
1/87 - 1/88
NAME = JEFF CORBIN
E-MAIL =
JCORBIN@CI.VENTURA.CA.US
SERVICE = US
MARINE
CORPS
UNIT = MARINE
BARRACKS
RANK/RATE/JOB =
LCPL
MY INTEREST IN DG
IS
= Stroll Down Memory Lane
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY:
= Actually, I Have a Real Story To Tell
MY WARSTORY =
HALF WAY
THROUGH MY 1 YEAR TOUR AT DG, I TOOK LEAVE BACK TO THE STATES VIA A MAC
FLIGHT. STILL VIRTUALLY A "BOOT", I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH MAC
PROCEDURES
AND FAILED TO GET A JULIAN STAMP AT LAX FOR MY RETURN MAC FLIGHT BACK
TO
DG. IN AN ATTEMPT TO RETURN, MY PARENTS MUST HAVE DIVEN ME BACK
TO
LAX A DOZEN TIMES BEFORE CORESPONDANCE HAD TO BE MADE WITH MY LT IN DG
TO GET ME ON A FLIGHT BACK (FORTUNATELY MY PARENTS LIVED IN SO
CAL).
NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WAS UA AND HAD EATEN UP AND GONE INTO NEGATIVE LEAVE.
UPON MY
RETURN, MY
SGT,
UPSHUR, WAS WAITING TO MAKE ME PAY AND PAY I DID! TO THIS DAY I'M
HERE TO TELL HIM THAT I DIDN'T PLAN THAT ONE, ALTHOUGH ALL THE TIME AT
HOME WAS GREAT! OH WELL, WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER!
I'M NOW A
POLICE
OFFICER
IN VENTURA, CA. IF ANY DG DEVIL DOGS (1987-88) ARE EVER IN TOWN,
LOOK ME UP!
1987-1988
NAME = John Supple
E-MAIL =
shydrashok@aol.com
NATIONALITY =
American
SERVICE = United
States
Marine Corps
UNIT = Marine
Security
Forces
RANK/RATE/JOB =
while
there...Lcpl-E-3, Corporal of the gard
MY INTEREST IN DG
IS
= Stroll Down Memory Lane
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY:
= Other
MY WARSTORY =
diego
garcia...thinking
of that place brings back some memories!! getting drunk all night to
fall
out for morning pt or force hump...to only still be drunk and run
stagered!!
lol pizza and burgers at da infamous donkey burger! going over to the
gym
to sneak peaks at the hot navy aerobics instuctor. going in mark
havilands
room the next morning after a night at da brit club finding him passed
out in da shower blocking the drain and flooding his room!!
playing
drinking games with the navy, eric was touble!lol patroling the rest of
the island and watching your LT wake up scared shitliss with a coconut
crab on his chest!! endless..or should i say PRICELESS!!
hey looking to correspond with anyone who was there,marine or navy.
exchange
tales and to chat. living in hawaii now traveling the world still with
a private company doing things similar to the corps. well aloha and
semper
fi to all da marines!!
1987-1988
NAME = Papa Gino
MY QUEST = To
preserve
the story of the Fraternal order of the Equatorial Polar Bear
VT of a SWALLOW =
African
or European?
E-MAIL =
alabinabluejeep@aol.com
NATIONALITY = US
of
course;
SERVICE = US freakin N; UNIT = Ground Electronics; RANK/RATE/JOB = ET1
MY INTEREST IN DG
IS
= Decided to Join A Monastery, But Couldn't Find One Stateside
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY:
= This is a No-Shit Drinking Story
MY WARSTORY =
There we
were, 12:30 AM, in front of the Air Ops barracks, BIOT Police happily
esconced
in the Brit Club. The Faithful Tub that had so obligingly kept
the
San Magoo from air temp (90 degrees F at midnight) was near
empty.
Large amounts of that rare and amazing solid, ICE, still floated at the
top.
Obviously, we had miscalculated again and had run out of beer before
the
end of the party. Quel damage, 12:30 and out of beer, damn and on
a Thursday to boot!
Someone produced a bottle of Jack Black. (God bless the Package
Store,
cheap, high quality booze, one more reason to extend) Out of
mixer,
but what the hell, this is an emergency.
Anyhow, Jack began whispering in my head. Some nonsense about a
quick
dip in the tub. Not one to question Mr Jack Daniels, I launched
my
carcass into the icy tub, Haiwian shirt and all. A short shout and one
towel later, the whole process repeated itself. Thinking I was on
to something, my Island mates joined in, at least those who had no
common
sense (as most of us lacked in those days).
The next morning I reflected on the experience with a wonderfully clear
head (all things considered). I attributed the lack of hangover
symptoms
to the icy water and queried my shopmates. To my surprise, they were
also
clear headed and feeling cheated of a hangover and thus productively at
work (oh, the horror).
Later that day, Jim Baca, Dan Benka and I sat down and created the
Order
of the Equatorial Polar bear. Any still have their certificate?
February 1986
-
February
1988 [see his 1986 entry]
NAME = Larry
Goulet;
E-MAIL = honcho13@mediaone.net
May 1987-May
1989
NAME = Bill
Prather
MY QUEST = To
share my
story of D.G. and why I extended for a year
VT of a SWALLOW =
pretty
goddamned fast
E-MAIL =
www.bjdbtprather@msn.com
NATIONALITY =
American;
SERVICE = United States Navy!; UNIT = Navy Broadcasting Service
RANK/RATE/JOB =
JOSN
then, Honorable Discharge as JO3 in 1991
MY WARSTORY = Ted,
What a great
website.
I just wanted to say to all that Diego Garcia is the planet's best kept
secret. I loved it so much that I stayed an extra year! I
worked
at the Navy Broadcasting Det and fully took advantage of the position
bestowed
upon me by Uncle Sam. I look back longingly on the extended
lunch-hours
I spent on physical training. No one ever knew that our PT was at
the Dew Drop! You know those 16lb bowling balls and 12oz San
Miguels
are some serious work! For a time, I hosted a Saturday evening
radio
show with Tom Walsh, another contributor to your site. We aired
oldies,
which were a passion of ours and also of the higher ranking (read:
older)
folks. Because of this, WE GOT AWAY WITH MURDER. I
co-hosted
a weekly TV show with Tom, "Island Insight." However, our claim
to
fame is the Tom & Bill show, which was really just our excuse to
get
drunk on duty. Each week, we would pick a long song and see how
many
beers we could drink while it played. Our record (and I hope it
still
stands) is a six pack each, while Iron Butterfly filled the airwaves
with
18 minutes of Ina-gada-davida. Diego Garcia gave me two of the
best
years of my life. I would love to take my wife (my second, I
married
for the first time on D.G. There's a war story for you!) My
family
has heard so much of the wonders of D.G. they feel like they're missing
something. And they are! By the way, my best friend Dave
Pattison,
is also a guy I met on D.G. We live just a couple of miles apart
in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado. So the friendships made on
D.G.
do last a lifetime. Great site, Ted. Thanks, and keep up
the
good work.
Bill Prather
Arvada, Colorado
December 1987
NAME = Matt Joyce
MY QUEST = Fleet
Logistic
Support
VT of a SWALLOW =
VRC-50
E-MAIL = Bears
570v@aol.com
NATIONALITY = U.S.
SERVICE = US Navy
UNIT =
Powerplants RC2-A
RANK/RATE/JOB =
Aviation
Machinist Mate - Discharged
MY WARSTORY
=
Arrived late. We needed to check in so we had someplace to sleep. We
had
15 minutes B-4 club closed. We arrived at the club and immediately
checked
in at the bar. Everyone ordered 2. Club closed and we left looking for
the convenience store after 11:00. Nowhere to be found. Went to sleep,
got up washed the aircraft, left the island.
1987-1988
SCOTT LASHLEE
<helo212@adelphia.net>
A friend happened
upon
your site and mentioned it to me. Guess I'm a plank holder from
certain
points of view. I have the distinct privilege of being the first
X.O. of Marine Barracks D.G.---there aren't too many of us since the
command
was short lived. Many fond memories of the "Foot Print"; like finishing
second in the D.G. first annual 1/2 marathon for my age group (not to
mention
there were few that participated). Or the time the young Dentist
(Lt.) and his female companion (junior enlisted) were returning from a
late night rondevous (toasted) and forgot there was a Donkey gate.
Needless
to say the small truck was totalled and and the couple sustained some
injuries
(non-life threatning). The Lt. was only held accountable for the
damages for the truck (a peice of junk that FEBRO left behind). It was
truly a world apart from normal military life----except for the
Marines.
Thanks for the site. Scott R. Lashlee Maj. USMC (ret)
P.S.
HERE IS A EXCERPT
FROM
OUR CHANGE OF COMMAND PROGRAM WHEN MAJ. STUDENKA WAS RELIEVED BUY MAJ.
FORTE JULY OF 87'.
HISTORY OF MARINE BARRACKS
MARINE
BARRACKS,
DIEGO
GARCIA WAS ADMINISTRATIVELY ACTIVATED ON 1 AUG 1986. ON 14 FEB. 1987,
THE
BARRACKS ATTAINED
A
LIMITED
OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY. MARINE BARRACKS, DIEGO GARCIA IS TO
"PROVIDE
SUCH SECURITY AS
APPROVED
BY THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS IN COORDINATION WITH THE COMMANDANT
OF THE MARINE
CORPS,
AND PERFORM SUCH ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS AS DIRECTED BY THE COMMANDANT OF
THE
MARINE
CORPS."
IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS MISSION, THE BARRACKS IS TASKED WITH
PROVIDING
SECURITY
FORCES TO THE
COMMANDING
OFFICER, U.S. NAVY SUPPORT FACILITY, AND WITH TRAINING, SUPERVISING, AND
SERVING AS THE
NUCLEUS
FOR THE U.S. GROUND DEFENSE FORCE.
SUBSEQUENT TO THE RESTRUCTURING OF SECURITY FORCES WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT
OF THE NAVY, ONLY 6
MARINE BARRACKS
REMAIN
WORLD WIDE WITH THIS MISSION. MARINE BARRACKS, DIEGO GARCIA IS
ONE
OF
THOSE 6.
1987-1988
DONALD
CHAMBERLAIN,
JR.
<charlie40dj@earthlink.net>
you havent
mentioned
running back to the head after a meal at the chow hall,or trying to
light
a cig. in a monsoon.
former LCPL
U.S.M.C.
Chamberlain Security Force Co.D.G. March 87 March 88.
1987-1988
TOM WASLSH
<tomwalsh@home.com>
Ted:
Excellent site!
I've just spent an hour or more perusing your links, and was stunned to
see the news that the Chagossians will be returning, and that in fact
they
were booted from the island in the first place.
I am extremely interested in returning to visit DG myself, preferably
with
my wife, who has had to endure years of stories about the place.
I was there from October '87 to October '88, and worked as a Journalist
(JOSN) in the Navy Broadcasting Service
Detachment -- I
produced,
wrote, edited and co-anchored a weekly TV program called "Island
Insight."
(I still have some of the tapes but they are too excruciatingly
embarrassing
to look at anymore.)
Perhaps I'll get back to you later with more on my time there, which
seems
to have coincided with yours. Jesus I loved that place. I was fortunate
enough to have a cool job (I had regular access to a pickup truck and
abused
the privilege fairly often with trips to the plantations), and for
seven
months, I even had a girlfriend there (a redhead CT who would tell me
when
they detected Russian subs in the area).
Thanks for all the work you did on your site. It's fabulous. I would be
honered to become a member of the PPDRDG.
1987-1988
Don Veitch
<ADELADON2@aol.com>
NATIONALITY
= UK; SERVICE = Royal Navy
Dear Ted Morris, I was stunned and amazed to see my photo in your
"Photo's
of Brit's" Page. I am the DON in the 3rd photo. My name is Don Veitch
and
I was on DG (NP1002) from Oct 87 to Nov 89). I was ROPO 6 (Police) and
had the best
13 months of my
naval
career there. I have since retired from the Royal Navy in 1997. During
my time on DG I met ET1 Kay Scofield
(NAVCOMM
- at "R" site), we married in 1990 in London. We have 2 children and
now
live in Gilbert AZ.
I would be very interested to hear from others of both the Brit Party
and
USN, who were on island around that time, including the VP Sqdns.
I love your site and keep up the good work.
Best wishes, Don
Veitch
1987-1988,
also
1979-1980
NAME = Walt
Bowlby
E-MAIL =
wa9neu@shawneelink.com,
wa9neu@drivernet.com
NATIONALITY =
USA;
SERVICE
= U.S. Navy; UNIT = C-Site; RANK/RATE/JOB = CTM1 Retired
MY INTEREST IN DG
IS
= Professional Spy
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY:
= I'd Like to Share Precious Memories of
Drinking/Fishing/Snorkeling/Sailing
on Diego Garcia
MY WARSTORY = It
was
always easy to find a party on DG and you were automatically
invited.
A few beers in hand would be a passport. But even empty handed got you
in.
I remember the bigest event was when the Dallas cowboys Cheerleaders
came
to the island. That reminded me that there were women back in "the
world"
and I was anxious to see them. It helped my 1 year tour go faster!
Diego Garcia was an interesting island and there were lots of things to
do. I enjoyed biking and also ham radio.
To anyone reading this, if you can you should do a tour of DG you will
have some good memories of it later!!!!!
1987-1988
BRIAN WESSEL
<bwessel@idcnet.com>
MY QUEST = To
somehow,
someday, get back to paradise
NATIONALITY = US
SERVICE
= US Marines
UNIT = Marine
Barracks/Marine
Corps Security Force Company
RANK/RATE/JOB =
Pfc -
Corporal. I moved up quite a bit there. Left the service in
1992.
MY WARSTORY =
Well, I
guess SOMEBODY has to represent the Marines. I missed the
infamous
DG shootings. One happened just before I got there, one happened
just after I left. I do have the distinction of being the only
Marine
offered a 1 year extension on the island, only to turn it down.
Ahh,
the folly of youth. Cruising this site was awesome. Braught
back a lot of memories. I remember being warned about "Patches"
by
the base CO at Island Indoc. How about that great
commercial?
Theres a lot you can do, on DG, and a lot that can be done for
free?
Anyone else still have that burned into thier braincells? As for
all you C-site weenies, quit your whining about the guards.
You think we liked standing there, in that little cage, hour after
hour?
The only good part was that hot LT.CMDR that was going out with the
Marine
officer. Other then that, it was anywhere from 4 to 8 hours of
staring
at the scavie. Loads of fun. Thanks to all those that
remembered
to get us some mid-rats too.
Someday I will have to tell the tale of the Marine that got
hypothermia,
thats right, HYPOTHERMIA, on DG. The Corpsman where freaked, as
they
couldn't believe that it was possible.
I wonder if they ever finished those morter emplacements on the roof of
the Marine compound? If anyone has pictures, I would love to see
them.
1987-1988
ALAN 'Bungy'
WILLIAMS
<alan@awtele.com>
NATIONALITY
= UK; SERVICE = Ex Royal Navy; UNIT = Airport customs & Brit Club
DJ
!!!!!!!
RANK/RATE/JOB =
left
navy in '90 and never looked back - except for the pictures and
memories
of DG
Why can't people who have been there never forget about it... and why
do
people we bore about how good it was never believe the great stories we
tell. I was there '87 - '88 (same time as you I think) as the
radio
technician with the brits.
It's only after you have finished your 365 days that you realise just
what
you have experienced and that (for the brits anyway) it was a once in a
lifetime trip that all involved wish could be repeated....
... and is but
onlt
through
dreams and memories.
1987-1988
BOB HODGES
<rwhodges7@aol.com>
NATIONALITY
= USA; UNIT = FEBRO
RANK/RATE/JOB = I
have
recently retired from America West Airlines where I was Director of
Aircraft
Overhaul. Also retired from McChord AFB Washington 446MAW reserves
313MAS
Flight Engineer C-141 where it all started. Couldn't stand to stay home
after retirement so went back to work for company in Phoenix called
FINOVA
...you can see them on www.finova.com
MY INTEREST IN DG
IS
= Professional Adventurer Looking For The Ultimate Get Away
MY WARSTORY = I
went
to DG to gain enough money to open a bar outside Clark. I was a single
man ...been single for many years like 15. Living in DG was good.
Worked
with all the other Expats on the flight line. After 6 mos and no
women I started to put together a plan to meet some TCN ladies. I
did start chatting with one in GSE by the name of Lina and well to cut
to the chase.....I got married at the end of my contract. The
moral
to this story is that in DG, unlike any other place in the world, you
make
a lot of promises to the women, and DG is a small island
....We,,Lina
and I are still married and living in Phoenix AZ. People will ask
now and then how we met... Most don't understand because they have
never
been to Diego Garcia
1987-1988
LISA (HARDESTY)
EDSON
<203legal@CNRF.NOLA.NAVY.MIL>
I stumbled upon your DG website by accident and was taken on a
wonderful
trip down memory lane. I was stationed there from May 87-Aug
88.
I was attached to COMFAIRWESTPAC DET (we were a small det of approx 10
people). My OICs was LT Larry Pemberton and LT Rick Hausvik.
I was good friends with BRITS Jayne and Chris (I noticed him in one of
your pics), who were in security. I "hung" with the navy
divers.
You probably remember diver chief McDonald & CWO Don Novak?
I have many pics from the island (many parties, plantation, dive boat
trips,
fishing, etc), if you are interested in putting them on your
website.
I am still in the Navy (19 years in November) currently stationed in
Atlanta,
GA. Hope to hear from you soon.
1987-88
LUIS (TONY)
DIVITO
<tdivito@actransit.com>
MY QUEST = To get
the
hell out of dodge
VT of a SWALLOW =
The
African or the European
NATIONALITY =
USA;
SERVICE
= USN; UNIT = Weapons; RANK/RATE/JOB = AO3 back then
MY INTEREST IN DG
IS
= Want to Drink A Lot, Cheap; SUBJECT OF MY STORY: = This is a No-Shit
Drinking Story
MY WARSTORY =
After a
full day (April 7, 1987) of drinking and throwing stale galley cake at
each other at Weapons Beach near the magazines, we headed back to
downtown
Dodge for some more booze. After hanging out at the barracks next to
the
Jarhead palace, the Marines went wild and set up a defensive parimeter
around thier barracks yelling at others to go back to their rooms and
setting
up rolls of razor wire. Needless no one paid attention to them as many
fellow Diegans often do. Suddenly we got the word to muster up at
the step-van and head on down to the Industrial area near the weapons
magazines.
But before we went there we were told to stop by at the armory.
AO1
Werkman, a crazy Vietnam era former Jarhead geeted us at the door of
the
armory with a M-60 Machine gun and asking us for a stupid password in
which
he neglected to tell anyone on the island even though he recognized us
from the party. Either he had Vietnam flashbacks or was happy to
be back in his jarhead element as he gave each of us shotguns, rifles
and
.45 along with a box full of shells. Since some of us were still
drunk we had a hard time holding on to our shotguns as we tried to load
them and running over crabs on the road. Shells were rolling all
over the step-van and the Chief, a crazy Oklahoman, was craking jokes
along
the way. Once we got down there we were told of the infamous
"sniper"
shooting at some Marine at the Comm Center and that we were put on
alert
at the time being. We were told to stand by at each door and if
anyone
came in just shoot them. It was a bit difficult as we were going
into the hangover period and were pissed off that we didn't get our
beer
to get over it. Thinking back we could've shot each other as we
were
not in the correct frame of mind, drunk ordies with guns. Well
nothing
happened since then.
After the Navy
and
Marine
forces searched the island for the sniper, including the deportation of
suspected contract workers as well as the clear-cutting of jungle
forest
it was concluded that the sniper was a Marine that fired his rifle and
made up the story as to not get in trouble. I heard from the
grapevine
that both Maggie Thatcher and Ronald Reagan were notified of the
incident
and that changes to security were needed.
1987-88
1994-96
DAVE JEWHURST
<DMJEWHURST@msn.com>
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY:
= I'd Like to Share Precious Memories of
Drinking/Fishing/Snorkeling/Sailing
on Diego Garcia
MY WARSTORY =
Actually,
I flew (worked) for both Hawaiian Airlines and Rich International
Airways
during those years and had the opportunity to visit many times. I
had never heard of the place until getting a flight plan to go
there!
What an experience, to say the least. I doubt that I will ever
get
back there, but stranger things have happened to me. I have
really
enjoyed looking over your site and have been able to prove that the
pictures
I have of the Island are for real (so many friends don't believe me!).
Dec. 1987 -
Dec. 1989
KIRK MANSFIELD
<kman24@clear.lakes.com>
MY QUEST = To
find the
Holy Grail
VT of a SWALLOW =
Twice
that of a long-tailed Eastern beaver
NATIONALITY =
U.S.;
SERVICE
= U.S. Navy; UNIT = U.S. Naval Security Group (Classic Wizard)
RANK/RATE/JOB =
ex-CTT2...discharged
Dec. 91 after tour in Edzell, Scotland.
MY INTEREST IN DG
IS
= Want to Drink A Lot, Cheap
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY:
= This is a No-Shit Drinking Story
MY WARSTORY = Two
years.
What the hell was I thinking? The first year passed quickly,
hardly
time to think about anything, I suppose. The second year came as
a result of a voluntary extension to escape certain follow-on orders to
Adak, Alaska. Two islands, both secluded, few women, figured I
might
just as well be in the sun. The second year passed just as
quickly
and was just as insane as the first. The biggest worry of the day
during the entire tour was "I wonder if there will be clouds with the
sunshine
tomorrow?" Cheap booze, excellent outdoor activities, and damn
good
friends, what the hell more could a 22-year old kid from Iowa ask for
in
those days? Civilization, for one thing. As bad as it was
perceived
to be in those days, we sure as hell had a good time hating the
place.
I think about it now and wonder if it really happened. I think
about
it now and wonder why I didn't stay on another year. I think
about
it now and wonder why I ended up there to begin with. I think
about
it now and realize it was but another stepping stone that has brought
me
to where I am now. As I reflect on time spent on "the rock," I
realize
that a major portion of who I am today was carved out during my two
years
in the middle of nowhere. I still keep in close contact with a
good
portion of those that I ran free with some 12,000+ miles from Sioux
City,
Iowa. I couldn't wait to leave, but I am damn glad I was able to
bring home with me a group of friends that became my family over
a two year period. Diego Garcia. Freakshow central. I
am quite proud to have lived in the middle of the sideshow...and if
asked
to do it again? I'd say, "you're damn right, step aside and let
me
dive off of the short pier this time, it's my turn! After that,
let's
go get us some sliders and lumpia from Donkey Burger!"
1987 - 1988
ANDY
<winnetka@hotmail.com>
What is Your
Quest?
A quiet place beneath the stars
What is the
Terminal
Velocity of a Swallow? Depends upon the trajectory
Det Yeoman at
PSD.
Enjoyed Trumbel beach, Allen's night to inventory at the Brit Club,
lobster
dinners at the pursers place with Rocky, walking the beach for shells,
Matt saying "I'm sober as a judge" and most of all the BRIT REPS
retired
working dog coming into PSD for treats.
May 1987
- May
1989
JIM "BO" PALMA
<jim.palma@am.sony.com>
What is Your
Quest?
To find "fudgemilk"
In the NAV from
'85 ~
91 - ET2 NEC1417 ASCOMM Settled back in Pittsburgh, Pa
Originally
"hated" to
hear that I was going to the "Rock". But soon made the best of it. Even
extended a year. I was an original "Boozer" Position - "Behind the
bag",
Boozer Name - "Bopper" Proudly acheiving a record of 14 - 1 (the only
win
was because the diveshop "Dreamteam" put a 1/2 keg on the line.) Had a
blast behind Diego Burger 2 at RM1 Martin's (Marty) Mai Tai Parties.
Made
a lot of trips to the EXPAT club for the pizza and San Magoos. Along
with
Mike D. Gale, Woody, & Larry originated the infamous "gutterbeer"
at
the Britt club during a classic DGAR downpour. I really miss the ol'
crew
- Soto,Woody,Gale,Larry,Mike,Rob,Blake, - The best group of guys
(drinkers)
I've come across yet!
1987-1990. Total
of
about
two years.
MARK HADFIELD
<hadfield_mark@hotmail.com
I worked for
FEBROE as
Comm/Elec Supervisor, then for IPAC as Communications/Electronics Annex
Manager. My father (Ray Hadfield) and I are interested in
contacting
others who worked for FEBROE that may still be on island, or elsewhere.
Any info is appreciated.
1987
NAME = Darryl
Burgess
MY QUEST =
Confirmation
that it all wasn't some alcohol induced hallucination
VT of a SWALLOW =
African
or European (I had an entire year to memorize that stupid movie)
E-MAIL =
drylbrg@earthlink.net
NATIONALITY = US;
SERVICE
= Navy (in body if not in mind); UNIT = Transmitter Site (worked near
the
mutant donkeys)
RANK/RATE/JOB =
ET, The
US Navy and I agreed that I really didn't belong in that fine
organization
after 1 enlistment.
MY WARSTORY =
This is
an actual, no shit, sober story. I Know, I know, it is hard to believe.
I thought people would like to know what people did in the middle of
the
night when at work far from the glamour and hustle of downtown Diego.
As
the Transmitter site usually only had 5 or 6 people there at night, by
the time I left, boredom was common. So crab golf was born. The
electrical
safety boards had wooden canes on them that were a suitable substitute
for a 5 iron. A bored ET just had to take a walk out in the attenna
field
and crabs would offer themselves up to take a short sub-orbital flight.
The main hazards were disturbed donkeys, and RF radiation. Working at
T-site
made us all sterile anyway and who gave a fuck about the donkeys, so a
quick 18 was just the ticket. Then you could go back and get
drunk
like the rest of the island.
1987 - 3
months
on the USS Jason
NAME = Homer
MY QUEST = to
survive
corporate life
E-MAIL =
Holmgren@ameritech.net
SERVICE = navy
RANK/RATE/JOB = I
was
an ensign when I was on the USS Jason(AR-8) in DG (which was old,
but not a piece of S--T), as someone referred to the Jason at this
site...
MY INTEREST IN DG
IS
= My Time There is Lost in an Alcoholic Haze, Help Me Remember!
SUBJECT OF MY
STORY:
= This is a No-Shit Drinking Story
MY WARSTORY
=
We tended the battle group in the fall of 1986 Sept/Oct/Nov. and
we had only 120 women on board the Jason(15 female officers) not 300 as
previously reported. The on-island people called us "JJ and the
Hoganettes",
because our CO, JJ Hogan III, usually gave several of us a ride to the
O'club at Liberty call. I attended several parties and yes we did
do a lot of dancing at the O'club--including some dancing on the
bar...there
were several people that were really fond of Carly Simon and Jimmy
Buffet
music and we played that music every time we sailed. (which was
generally
every weekend). We usually had a big feast along and unrep'ed our
way across the lagoon--passing the best food back and forth between the
sailboats. One party I went to, the host had everyone dress up in
Tuxedos and he brought in all kinds of potted palm trees--sort of an F.
Scott Fitgerald/Great Gasby party...it was packed and several people
showed
up in tuxedo tops and burmuda shorts. Most of the Jason officers
and the base officers were there...but none of us got in trouble for
curfew
because our CO was out past curfew with us...now on the night that the
ships doc "Blew Chow" we were at the Yacht club dining out and a couple
of us did stay out too late...The president of the Mess was the base
oceanographer
and I was the Mdm vice. I also heard after the party that someone
had used a closet as a bathroom--but it was an island person, not a
Jason-person.
Yes
a few of us did get put in hack, but it was only 3 days not 2
months--it
just seemed like 2 months because it was the last three days we were on
island. The party definitely did get a little wild...but it was
very
fun (and entertaining) Perhaps the most memorable occasion was
that
I broke my foot one evening running up to the top floor of BOQ 6 to
meet
some friends. (and I can neither confirm nor deny that it
was
an alcohol related incident) When I got up there I was limping and told
the Ship's Doc that I had tripped, so she felt compelled to check my
foot
and said--"its broken". But, we didn't let that slow us down, and we
didn't
go to medical because that would mean an early end to liberty, so for
the
rest of the evening the people with whom we were partying had to carry
me around to the expat club and the oclub. Of course the next day
my foot was huge and I ended up in a plaster cast because the island
was
out of fiberglass material. I think I ended up changing the cast
3 times in 4 weeks and I have a picture of some people cutting the cast
off with a butcher knife, because the cast had gotten wet while we were
out sailing. We had way too much fun in
DGAR, but we did
work
hard while we were there as well--it just doesn't make for as good of a
sea-story...
PS. I was also
there
when
the JJ decided to drive the car back on the flat tires. He was pretty
furious!
1987-1988
&
1993-1998
S. J. "JACK"
WELCH JR.
<j_welch@gtmo.net>
What is Your
Quest?
To make sure I remember the great times I had there.
What is the
Terminal
Velocity of a Swallow? Faster than an afternoon fishing charter.
(If you can get on the list).
1987-1988 (Diving
Officer
and Port Operations Officer). 1993 to 1998 (Port and Harbor Services
Manager).
Retired (26
Years) U.S.
Navy Warrant Officer. Have been working Overseas since my retirement. 5
years in Diego Garcia and currently here in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as the
Port and Harbor Services Manager.
Was very active with the Yacht Club. Built the elevated Deck extension
for the drummer of "Seven Degrees South". Needed it for more dance
room.
Built the Bar alongside the deck. (In those days, we were not part of
MWR.)
We actually had for a time, a great little bar run and operated by the
Yacht Club Members. Overhauled the first Sail Boat and named it
"The
Souther Cross".
Built the bar in the New FILMAU Club. Was also very active in the Diego
Garcia Little Theater Group. We put on a number of plays off Broadway
(Way
off Broadway). I think this is a terrific page you have established. As
I looked through the names of the Guestbook, I remembered a number of
members...
Finally, fell in love on that island with the most wonderful woman in
the
world. Won't mention her name but, if she ever reads this, she
will
know. Didn't work out but I will always think of her fondly.
1987-1988
CINDY
<qoth@aol.com> Cindy's
Home Page
Stationed at PSD then, probably going to the Commsta later this year,
along
with several others from my current command--woohoo, another year of
sea,
sun, and long damn work days!
Comments: What d'ya mean copyrighted pictures!!?? I swear you
stole
my palm tree-in-the-sunset picture!!!
From another
e-mail:
Subject: AAACCKK Flashbacks!!!
I was on DGAR in 87/88, a friend of Andy's and Nell was my roommate for
awhile. I didn't hang out at the Brit club much, played too much
Dungeons and Dragons with the comm geeks (some of the best gaming
ever).
Have you kept in touch with Andy? I lost my address book long,
long
ago. Please let me know if there is a way to contact
her.
PS, very cool page, had lots a fun looking thru and wondering WHY WHY
am
I going back??!!!
Let me see, that was June '87 to '88 for me. I flew out there by
the west coast route, thru the Philippines. I was thinking about
going to the camp above the Air Force base for leave rather than the
arduous
flight back to the States. There were oil well bombings in the
Gulf,
and bombs/grenades/shootings in Philippines later that year, so when
leave
time arrived, PI was closed for military flights/US tourists, and I had
to take the East Coast route back to the States. We flew over one
of the burning oil wells, and the people with various clearances were
kinda
nervous. We got anti-terrorist and possible unfriendly
landing
briefs, and I was on the beach one nite when a friend and I saw
mysterious
lights off the shore, and NO sound! We approached cautiously, and
surmised that it was occurring in the vicinity of the Commsta, and if
it
was anything strange, they would have mentioned it to someone-it was
helicopters(I
think) but you sure couldn't tell it from a distance! And no, we hadn't
been consuming mass quantities! PSD had only the CADO
system, and Z-120's for computers. The CADO system used 8"
floppies
I seem to recall! There was one 286 or maybe a 386 that had been
there a year or so but nobody knew what they wanted to have on it
software-wise,
or if they should switch to an unknown computer. I knew almost nothing
about PC's, and got the set-up wrong and had no display. Had to
get
hold of one of the squadrons and map everything out so I could do the
set-up
blind. One of the squadron DK's didn't make a copy of her data
diskette
and since, as you all remember, DG is about last on the supply
lists,
she typed out checks for quite awhile.
Let's see, Donkey Burger had the big screen projection TV, we had an
earthquake
that woke everyone up for an impromptu 'earthquake party', you could
tell
when the Gompers was in 'cause there were strange women walking around
in clothes we hadn't seen a hundred times before, PSD supplied the
women
for almost all the commercials AFRTS guys did, Bob Hope visited (I only
saw him in his sweater out on the lawn waiting to leave the next day, I
figured w/o binoculars I'd never see him at the hangar so I didn't go
to
the show), phone cards were something like $5/minute, Star Trek Next
Generation
was new and taped shows were valuable trade items. There was
still
debate about a miniature golf course supposedly held in the MWR vaults,
jungle ball was all the rage, sailboats were available or Mike boats
for
fishing (I only went sailing once and spent almost 4 hours puking over
the side, hangovers and small-craft warnings don't mix--and I have
never
sailed since)! The only time I wasn't puking was when one of the
girls got dumped into the water and started swimming after the boat,
she
asked if there were any sharks (ha ha) and, as if on cue, we all said
'no,
there aren't any sharks!' Oh, yeah, can't forgot the Mongolian
bar-b-ques
started weekly at whatever the restaurant is at the US club is called,
those were a nice change! Oh, and the big doings at PSD, the
chief
tried to get the OIC removed (unsuccessfully) and she (the chief) ended
up successfully adopting one of those scraggly, long, in-bred kittens
and
taking it back to the States.
I did leave out the stuff like, if you wanted to cook you had to
hang out with a civilian or an officer, same with taking a bath, we all
know that [EDITOR's NOTE: Yes, I remember long lines of women
waiting
outside my BOQ to take baths]. And remember how hard it was to
get
supplies to cook, had to have a request signed by the COC unless,
again,
you knew somebody. Ah, well, at least we didn't have all dirt
(sand)
roads and tons of mosquitoes, like in the old days!
FROM ANOTHER E-MAIL: Cindy asked me "Do you remember anything
about
some Marine shooting his weapon off and all the Marines going on
alert?
And the Marine drills, when the rest of us folks would clear the
downtown
area and let them skulk about? There are vague flickerings about
that stuff, can you shed any light on that?
TEDDY's
RESPONSE: Oh, yes, I remember that very very well. The
jarhead
at the comm site guard shack claimed he'd taken fire from the jungle,
and
returned fire with his pistol. Remember this was when the
Ayotollah
had directed people to attack Americans, and there were about 300
moslems
in the FEBROE work force (filipinos and Mauritians). Do you
remember
Gunny Hatfield? His picture is on the Brit Club page.
Anyway,
the Marines had a squad always ready to respond to something, and they
jumped in their trucks there at Ft. Johnny Rambo and sped off - to the
bomb dump! Anyway, they got there, and the Marine called again,
and
they made a uey and headed back for C-Site. Driving down the
road,
Hatfield and the Captain who was driving thought they were taking fire
too.
So the whole island came to a screaming halt. They closed all the
clubs (except the Seaman's Club, the Contractor's Club, and the Brit
Club)
for about 2 weeks. Also the outdoor theater AND the package store,
bowling
alley, etc., and there was a curfue as I recall of 10 pm or something
too.
You also couldn't walk down DG 1 after dark, so if you didn't have
wheels,
you couldn't get a beer. Fortunately, our det had 3 vehicles between
us,
so we were able to hit the Brit Club "on the way" home from work, etc.
The NSF CO Captain Barker AND the Brit Rep (CMDR Drummond) were in
London
for the annual "Pol/Mil" talks on the island, leaving the XO, and the
dumbest
man alive, in charge of DG. He started sending out OPREP 3s to
the
Navy world, but no AF addressees. So I sent my own to PACAF and
MAC
(more on that later).
Anyway, my big problem was that C-5s were supposed to have armed guards
at all times in those days. However, the Navy refused to provide
them there at DG. So I asked Ed Forte, the USMC CO if he'd guard
the airplanes during the
"Sniper
Crises".
After all, if there was a sniper, our airplanes were about the only way
off the island, and we (the AF) got concerned about stowaways and
hijackers.
Well, the Marines guarded the C-5s for 2 days, and then CAPT Barker
returned and took
them
off the planes. So I went to the Brit XO Tom McMurray, and he
said
he'd send Royal Marines down to guard the MAC ramp.
Anyway, the next night I stopped by the Brit Club for a beer, and
here's
one of the Brits in a ghillie suit, with his assault rifle and night
scope
drinking a beer! He said he was going out to "guard" my
airplanes.
"Don't worry, Ted," he said. "I'll be in the scavie on the west
side,
and if anybody gets near your planes, I'll pop them for you!" I
assume
he would have - those Royal Marines were tough.
So
I sent another message off to the AF. I was young enough not to
understand
the distribution system for messages at CINCPAC HQ, and it turned out
that
the messages went to Navy people as well as AF. Anyway the gist
of
the message was
"The USN once
again
won't
support USAF needs, but the Brits will and all is well." Anyway,
Barker got calls from a total of about 20 stars over that message, and
Ed came to my room one morning and said I should go shelling that day,
because Barker was looking for me, and intended to hang me from the
yardarm
at the quarterdeck. I took him at his word, and turned the
detachment
over to my NCOIC and headed for the GEODSS site and hung out with my
friends
down there for the day. Sure enough, the next morning Barker came
into the mess (he never ate with the troops in the mess) and walked
right
over to me and told me, "Its a good thing I couldn't find you
yesterday,
I'd have hanged you, etc." then he stormed off (we were never
close
after that). So I turned to the Navy guys I usually ate breakfast
with and said something like "he wouldn't really do that would he?" and
they said he would, and what's more, if the Capt. said "do it", they'd
have saluted smartly and tied the knot themselves! The Navy is
very
very different from the AF (where all decisions are made by committee).
Well, anyway, about a week later, the NIS guys got back from some court
martial in the PI, and broke the case. Sweated the truth out of
the
poor little leatherneck by locking him up in their little Gestapo HQ
for
3 days. Anyway, it turns out he "thought" someone was in the
jungle,
so he chambered a round and then thought better of it, and the gun went
off as he tried to unload it. He would have been alright if he'd
fired off the whole clip into the jungle, but it was just one round
fired,
and one round recovered out of the wall of the guard shack, and he went
off to jail somewhere nasty.
There never was a sniper.
1987-1988
STEVEN J.
FORSBERG <sjforsbe@bayou.uh.edu>
(Steve was
a two
time infiltrator, 1987-88, and 1990-91 - including all of Desert
Shield/Storm)
As a person who probably spent a little too much time there, and has
done
a little too much research about the place, I believe that I am
eminently
qualified to add a few meager stories to your treasure trove of
important
historical notes. I am currently a historian in training (haven't
snared the PhD--yet) and one of my long running interests is the
history
of that beloved little foot print in the Indian Ocean. I wrote a
short historical account of the island, but the Navy wouldn't put it on
the web because I mention the "ethnic cleansing" of the Ilois, a
subject
that the Brits just don't want talked about. I have an outline
for
a book (that may even one day get completed), but I'd rather dwell on
the
stories that the academic community probably wouldn't appreciate :-).
I arrived on the island for the first time in the spring of 1987,
compliments
of "Rich International Fly By Night" airlines
(recall the
aircraft
whose landing gear gave out? yeah, those guys). Though I
wore
a uniform I was not a "real" sailor, but rather a cryptologist who
humored
all those goofballs running around in funny outfits and giving
orders.
I was a Wizard fresh from Winter Harbor, Maine, where we had allegedly
attended a 4 month school. I was headed for C-Site, the
Ocean
Surveillance building, home of Naval Security Group Department and a
command
unto itself within the larger CommSta. My new Department Head had
been attending the officers course in Winter Harbor, and we were on the
same flight out. I recall walking towards the back of the
airplane
to talk to her, and she was reading a book with a title like
"Women
in Charge: Surviving in Male Dominated Organizations". I
figured
that if she was smart enough to look for advice she would do all
right.
Indeed, she turned out to be the best junior officer I ever ran
across.
( pre "Tailhook" tales coming....)
After a winter in Maine doing nothing but boozing, the DG weather was a
bit of a change. In addition, it was just my luck that the day
after
I checked in the command was holding a PT test. In addition, in
part
because of my better-left-unmentioned past I had been assigned as an
E/R
(Evaluator Reporter). To make a long story short, the elite and
often
egotistical guys (no women allowed!) at the far end of the ops
floor.
The more senior guys took me out to the Turner Club the night before
and
made it clear that I had better "have a good time" unless I wanted to
be
demoted to the "monkey posit". So I had a good time.
Here I am, at my first command, in front of all the PO1s, and I would
have
had a really bad hangover if I'd gone to
sleep and sobered
up
a bit. We start the run at the Gym, heading past the
softball
parks and take a right turn (recall the route that went past
security?).
About 150 yards, and I'm leaning over into the jungle orally ejecting a
nights worth of mixed drinks into the jungle. The only PT test I
ever failed. The very next day I was hat in hand in front of the
Division Senior Chief. Oh well :-).
The Turner club closed at 10:30 every night, I seem to recall.
The
theory was that if everyone then went home and to bed they could get to
work in the morning. Bad theory -- instead everyone just went
back
to the barracks and partied with hard liquor. Every night there
was
a big bash somewhere. That is one of the perks of being at a
watchstanding
command--every
night
is someone's weekend. I lived in BEQ-13 (first floor, ocean side,
down near BEQ14. Room 115?
can't
recall).
Quick access to Cannon Point, 50 feet from the volleyball courts and
the
grills. The Short Pier was just a 2
minute walk in
one
direction.
The package store 4 minutes the other. There was the Turner Club
(including a lounge that was being constantly renamed). Then
there
was the Seaman's club, and down the road a bit the infamous Brit
Club.
If you were a female, there was also the Officers Club. Transient
aviators didn't give a sh*t about what the local brass thought --- is
she
looked good she went where ever!
Someone mentioned the infamous "Night the Iranians Attacked Diego
Garcia".
The event started at C-Site, which in those days was guarded by the
few,
the loco, the Marines. These were not the garden variety Radio
Battalion
pee wees who are sometimes found at crypto sites, but rather the "real
deal", grunts, infantrymen. On those few occasions when they
could
stay awake at night guarding our site (which had never been, and never
would be, attacked) they often played "quick draw" with their loaded
.45s.
Well, one night some guy accidentally squeezed the trigger while doing
so and a shot went through the combination box. From what I
understood,
he then called the Sergeant of the Guard, who gave him an unexpended
round
(to take the place of the one he shot) and radioed back to the Marine
Barracks/Security
a bogus sniper attack.
I was at the Turner club at the time. Security came in and shut
the
place down early -- bad move, now there were swarms of half-drunken
people
looking for someplace to go. DG1- the route to the seamans club
and
the Brit club -- was now being guarded by Brit Marines, and as others
have
pointed out they are not to be trifled with. Instead everyone
started
wandering back to the barracks and starting impromptu "porch
parties".
Security was driving around in a truck with a loudhorn telling people
to
go inside and instead they were throwing bottles. The Marines at
the Marine barracks were in "condition fanatic", lined up on the roof
in
full gear and with loaded weapons. If you came near the barracks,
a guy would scream "LOCK AND LOAD!" and you'd hear all those M-16 bolts
slamming. Then they'd yell "Turn around and walk away!
Deadly
force authorized!" As you walked away they would yell "SAFE!" and
all the bolts would clatter open.
A fellow I knew, rather drunk, was 'teasing' the marines. He
would
rush across the street (LOCK AND LOAD), and then back up (SAFE), and
then
rush across again (LOCK AND LOAD), and back up (SAFE)......ad
nauseum.
A crowd of people were cheering him on. By the time morning came
around most everyone had figured out that the sniper was bogus. I
can recall our CO standing near the combo box talking to the Marine CO
the next morning. He would ask a question and the marine CO would
respond "According to the SOG..." or "I'm told...." or
"Supposedly....".
Our CO just shook his head and said "I don't care what you were told.
What
really happened?" I think that even then the Marine CO
guessed
what was up. As they said, some NIS people flew in and they
sweated
the guard and it all came out in the wash.
You have a picture of Major Agee on your site. He and I once
moved
to the head of an overloaded MAC flight by
agreeing to be
courriers
for an SCI shipment. I once had to go down to GEODSS to use their
STU-III. The Air Force always had the top notch toys long before
anyone else, and they were royally spoiled and pampered. Another
group that got away with murder (figuratively, not literally like the
Brit
Marines) were the US Army folks who worked at Wizard. There were
no army officers on the island, usually just one E-7 and 3 or 5 junior
folks. They could do whatever the NCOIC felt like and the
command
couldn't touch them. Their records (everything) were maintained
back
at Fort Meade, Md, and it probably would have taken an act of congress
just to NJP one. "Mandatory Army Training Days" were
usually
fishing trips.
You also mention Halloween of 1987. I recall the night distinctly
(despite the booze!). I spent most of it at the Brit club, they
were
cooking these delicious shish-kabob things on the grill (of course,
when
I drink heavily most anything tastes good. Even the Hot Pasties
at
the Brit Club). I was dressed up as a "flasher" (Long navy
raincoat, flesh colored lycra bike pants from a friend, taped birth
control
glasses).
Other fond memories of that first year:
The Diego Burger (aka Donkey Burger) --- loved them greasy pizzas!
The Beach from Cannon Point to R-Site --- walked it often
The EXPAT club --- good view, and good pizza (do I detect a
pattern?)
The "TRAP status thumb Mk I" --- it would take some explaining
The lightning strike/fire in the old clean room.
The "almost" hurricane.
Cheap booze of every variety and in large quantity.
"Patches" --- Oh, I'm sooo tempted to name names (some are CPOs now!).
On another note, we were among the last people on the island authorized
to wear the classic Diego Garcia attire: Khaki shorts,
white
t-shirt, pith helmet, jungle boots, green socks rolled down. The
next year they outlawed this traditional attire and replaced it with
the
infamous "Postal Service" uniform (i.e. dungaree "shorts" down to
the knee and black shoes with pulled up black socks).
When I left I suspected that I would be back in the near future.
Sure enough, after a tour in Guam (talk about "sucks") I headed back to
Diego Garcia so that I could be at the front lines for the war that
everyone
with half a brain saw coming, and saw many of the same people coming
back
for the same reason. But the Desert Shield/Storm era is a whole
'nother
volume (and for a Wizard, 2000 miles away IS the front line :-) ).
p.s. Did you know that in the late 1500s a Portugese treasure
ship
wrecked on a reef in the Chagos? There is a fortune waiting to be
had.......
1987-1988
GARRY HEDRICK,
Sr.
<RETAFGRANDPA1952@aol.com
[Garry was in our little MAC
Det]
I was stationed there as NCOIC of Aircraft Maintenance. I left Air
force
in 1991. I work for a gas Co. In west Virginia now. Ted was my
commander
from Aug 1987 til July 1988.
1987-1988
DES BRIGGS "ROPO
1"
<desbabs@hotmail.com>
I was ROPO1 from 87 - 88 and had a great time locking up unsavoury
individuals!
Connected to the web for the first time today, this is a trial
run.
Give me a call if you were at DG at this time and had dealings with
ROPO1.
1987-1988
GEORGE BONE "ROPO
1"
<ero.dryad@gtnet.gov.uk>
What is Your
Quest?
To greet my fellow lovers of Diego Garcia
I
was the British Chief of Police (ROPO1). I am presently serving in the
Royal Navy at Northwood HQ, London
I
will be moving to a new email address shortly and would eventually like
to get in touch again.
Editors
Note:
George
took over ROPO 1 from Des.
1987
TERRI (McKinstry)
YOUNGS
<tyretiredwave@yahoo.com>
What is Your
Quest?
Remember the good times, to hell with the rest
42 Retired AZ,
married
(met my husband in DG when he set his ord. truck on fire)mother
of
1. Live in CA. Don't forget those VP squadrons out of Moffett.
All
you guys take care and may God bless you.
1984-1989,
1999-????
FRED TAMBELLINI
<ftam911@cwnetdg.io><dgchief911@yahoo.com><fredtambellini@hotmail.com>
I am Fred Tambellini,and I was on Diego Garcia with FEBROE 1984 to 1989
as Asst. Fire Chief. Went to Berbera and Mogadishu, Somalia, with
Admiral Lee - COMFAIRWESTPAC - to do a fire protection risk
assessment.
Will send you
a story or
two.
Also, I am back on Diego Garcia as Fire Chief. WEIRD or what !!!
Best to you all, FRED the fire guy. |
