october 1996 -sept.2001
Name = Ronaldo L Mangalino
submit_by = bhaywolf69@yahoo.com
Citizenship = Filipino
Other_Country =
Service = Contractor
Other_Service =
Outfit = annex 9 trans. dept.
My_Quest = annex o9 transportation mechanic
VT_of_a_Swallow =
My_Warstory = hey this is a real
story, i have my record in B.I.O.T. police
station. i was put in jail damn it was soooo cold
during my inprisonment thats the time the jail was
renovated. it was also the time when timmy was put
to sleep. he is a military dog.i still remember
R.O.P.Os name like ROPO 5 Haydee Dunn ROPO 10 Andy
Varah, ROPO 6 David Mcaffrey, ROPO 11 Ollie Olsen.
most of the british military have become my
friends especially andy varah, he visited me in
philippines twice. hey who can forget the fullmoon
platoon and island wide picnic. gosh i miss the
place its a unique paradise. Anyway i lost my
temper which led to my imrisonment and lost my
good job. too much opportunity have lost. now i am
working in saudi arabia but given a chance i want
to work in D.G. again. by the way my purpose for
posting my story is to have a communication to any
of the brit military who took care of me. i was
not treated as a prisoner i became trustee right
away. guys im ronnie contanct me in my e- mail ad.
bhaywolf 69@yahoo.com ronaldo mangalino. thx
Dates_Aboard = 1999-2001
Name
= Dan Hurlburt darkainjul@yahoo.com
Citizenship
=
USA
Service
= USN
Outfit
= PRW1
My_Quest
= To live
VT_of_a_Swallow
=
slow on a windy day
My_Warstory
=
Meet my wife on the island Heather Goss worked in
the same place, overall thought island pretty nice
Philippine people pretty friendly.
Came
across video (Stealing a nation by John Pliger) of
the Chagossian people and their being taken off
Diego around the 60's , when i visited the
plantation via boat I had no idea how old those
buildings were or when the last inhabitants had
lived their, I sure didn't think the 1960's maybe
1860's-- oh well the internet is my alma
mater. Without turning this into a political
debate, I sure would be pissed if someone gassed my
dogs.
Beyond
that, nice forum.
Thanks Dan
[Editor's Note:
Pilger has a political agenda - be sure to read the
true Chagossian story at http://www.zianet.com/tedmorris/dg/chagossians.pdf.]
1999-2000
Tom Kretz <bb62kretz@yahoo.com>
I served with
Mark Chandler A.K.A. Minister of Alcohol
Distribution. A most fitting position for
him I must add. Mark is the one
responsible for coverting me from Bacardi 151 to
Cap?n Morgan, thanks brother! I was the
second 'shoe' at PATRECONWING1 DET DG and do
herby nominate myself as the Minister of
Anarchy. Shortly after my arrival at the
detachment the OIC 'MIG' discovered that he had
been cursed with what he refereed to as 'a
bullet proof chief'. I was sent there after not
only having my request to go to the Fleet
Inactive Reserve request DENIED, but also having
my shore duty terminated 12 months early.
Needless to say I was anything but excited to be
there. I am not sure what possessed the
MIG but he appointed me the Command Chief and I
seized the opportunity to show the Airdale
Officers what the Black Shoe Navy was all
about. We never saw eye to eye, the MIG
and I, and more than once I had the pleasure to
tell him NO. The day he wanted me to send
an Airman outside with scissors to trim the
grass was a classic. Anyway, the longer I
was there the more I enjoyed it. I still
miss several of the friends I made there, even
if THEY were shoes.
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.
April 1999- April 2000
NAME = Rob Ortiz
E-MAIL = rob330241@hotmail.com
NATIONALITY = US
SERVICE = USAF
UNIT = GEODDS Det Chief
RANK/RATE/JOB = Retired
MY INTEREST IN DG IS = Stroll Down
Memory Lane
SUBJECT OF MY STORY: = I'd Like to
Share Precious Memories of
Drinking/Fishing/Snorkeling/Sailing on Diego
Garcia
MY WARSTORY = Simple....one of the
best years of my life. Thanks to all. I loved
the hitching post. Great friends
1999 thru 2000
NAME = L.T.SOSON
MY QUEST = Don't to go there before
VT of a SWALLOW = To swallow
E-MAIL = dgtebag@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY = Filipino
SERVICE = U.S. Army
UNIT = SIU, USNS Potomac, USNS Sisler,
USNS Watson
RANK/RATE/JOB = U.S. ARMY (Ret) Sgt.
Maj. & Merchant Marine
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 = I arrived in Diego
Garcia on May 1999, through by ship USNS
Potomac, some off friend my brought me to
"Filmau Club" and get drunk. Those all I do
almost every night in the Island, then one off
my shipmate and the guys from the Island they
introduce to me one of the beautiful lady there
her name is "EMMA BARBERAN". I decided to stay
there for awhile until we end to relationship
until now, she is a very nice lady and she
know's how to run our financial. She has a
better life now than before when she was there
in Diego Garcia, we still not married and we
have a son name "TJ". He is 5 years old now, her
eldest son from previuos marriage is currently
pursuing to be a lawyer in San Beda College. Now
Emma has a growing business in her small town.
This is the same lady I met before when I
was still in active duty when I was in Diego
Garcia on my last deployment in my unit as a
"SPECIAL FORCES" (GREEN BERET), on my way to
"Desert Storm" as Diego Garcia is our staging
area. But I never pay attention to her when I
first met her. I wish I met her before, long ago
so she won't go through on her hard life before.
For searching the right man, I thank you the
crew of Potomac and the guys in the Island and
especially the manager of Filmau (NITO), never
regret for being there and I want to go
back....Take care to all of you there and
God Bless You all.........Larry T. Soson, Ret
Sgt Maj U.S ARMY
1999-2000
NAME = jason benson
MY QUEST = to find the souls of lost
friendship and Drink drink drink
VT of a SWALLOW = Yellow
E-MAIL = cto2_benson@hotmail.com
NATIONALITY = North American
SERVICE = USN
UNIT = C-Site
RANK/RATE/JOB = CTM2 (Retired)
MY INTEREST IN DG IS = Professional
Spy
SUBJECT OF MY STORY: = There I Was,
Passed Out on The Beach
MY WARSTORY = There i was nice quiet
morning trying to badg in at C-site when the
damn buss pulls away. Wouldn't you know
Kyle libe comes flying out the door and
Wham!!!!! I got nknocked the fuck out.
After comming to back to work as usuall.. two
weeks later I come too on a mac flight into
singapor aparently i had some brain damage and
have become epeleptic. The briliant end to
an otherwise outstanding Navy tour of
duty. In the mean time i have become a
chemical engeneer of sorts working a hydrogen
production facility in washington state. and
find myself looking for those friend i neve got
that last drink with.. Oh and i owe someone 20
buck was it u?
1999-2000; 1985-1986
Group pictures wanted
Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 23:08:02
-0400
From: "Michael Brown"
<mwd007@cox.net>
I was stationed in DG `85-86 and
`99-00 and am looking for any group pictures
that hung on the wall in the club.
Specifically of the "Over 30 G's.
Mike Brown MACS (SW/AW) Retired!
Sept
1999 - Oct 2000
NAME =
Phillip M. Marshall
MY QUEST
= Just nice to talk to all that have survived DGAR
VT of a
SWALLOW =
E-MAIL =
phillip.marshall@det.amedd.army.mil
NATIONALITY
= US
SERVICE
= Navy
UNIT =
PATRECONWING-1
RANK/RATE/JOB
= Operations Specialist 2nd Class (SW)
Seperated
2004 and now a contractor for the Army.
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 = DGAR was pretty cool for me. At
my Hail and Fair Well. I ended up getting so
hammered that I was telling our Detachment
Commander how he should be running things (even
though I had been to the Island all of 1
week) Almost fell off the Bus to get back to
my room, slept for a few and then commenced to
really start drinking at the Brit
Club. Not my best momment. From
then I got a bad rep but what the Hell. I
had a blast. Work out in the day, drink at
night, and look at al the DGAR queens think they
are so hot just because it was like 100 to
1. One thing that was nice was every 4
months there was a new air wing coming in with hot
fresh young soft flesh.
1990-1995
and 1999-2000
NAME =
Allen Willey
MY QUEST
= Spread the Truth
VT of a
SWALLOW = African or European?
E-MAIL =
aswilley@aol.com
NATIONALITY
= U.S. of Hey
SERVICE
= USAF
UNIT =
Det 8 AFSPC
RANK/RATE/JOB
= Defense Contractor for Ford and Loral Aerospace,
Crypto Manager for all three Air Force tracking
stations on the island from 1993 to 1995.
MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane
SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = Actually, I Have a Real Story To
Tell
MY
WARSTORY = In 1973 I was an E-5 at RAF
Chicksands. I was going through a divorce
and was living in the NCO barracks. One
night a little two -striper who had been on
station only a few months came to my room and said
the first shirt had just raped her. He was
married, but his wife had gone back to the
states. She was hysterical, laughing and
crying at the same time. They had been
taking a class together and he had suggested a
study period in his room, just two floors above my
room. I took her to the clinic and they did
the rape protocol on her. The guy got 6
months at Leavenworth, busted to staff and a bad
discharge.
But
for my troubles, I lost my security clearance and
was shunned by the whole base for the rest of my
tour. My supervisor said "RHIP, old boy",
and his friends were shocked that I would ruin his
career for such a little thing. So I wasn't
suprised at the latest rape scandal at the academy
last year, and I won't be suprised at the next
one.
1999-2000
NAME
= Melissa Park
MY
QUEST = To remember the good times not the bad.
VT
of a SWALLOW = African or European?
E-MAIL
= parkwyou@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY
= American
SERVICE
= Navy
UNIT
= NCTS
RANK/RATE/JOB
= RM3/civilian now
MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = My Time There is Lost in an
Alcoholic Haze, Help Me Remember!
SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = There I Was, Passed Out in My Room
MY
WARSTORY = I wrote once before when I first got
off the island with the rosy glow still in
effect....Looking back, I did alot of stupid
things but it was my choice. I was young and 5
days married when I got there, that didn't last
long! I alligned myself with one of the Royal
Marines, from there I was a total Anglophile!
There were alot of bitches there who spread alot
of nasty rumors about me, whatever dude!! I met
some of my closest friends there, when I got
stationed in England we kept in close contact,
unfortunately one of the best guys I knew died in
a bike accident a couple of weeks off the island
(Ian "MAC" McKintosh). In my last month there he
helped me more than anyone ever has!! There
are alot of awesome things to do there but if you
don't have a good group of friends to hang with
you get lost in the bottom of the bottle!!!
During
my year there I drank too much, partied too often,
left myself open to alot of critism that didn't
help much...the only advice I could give is to not
let your defenses down because even your "friends"
can't be trusted when they get jealous!!!
My
original mission on the island was to leave before
Monty the dog, I made it...unfortunately he died
there soon after!
1996-2001
NAME
= Richard Chase
MY
QUEST = Telephone company
VT
of a SWALLOW = Aleph null
E-MAIL
= rchaseio@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY
= USA
UNIT
= BJS-DG21
RANK/RATE/JOB
= Public Works Director
MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Want to Drink A Lot, Cheap
SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = Other
MY
WARSTORY = I noticed new stories by George
Laughlin and Harry Johnson, so I thought I'd chime
in. Here is my first day in DG, September 1996:
I
had been traveling for days to get there. Anyone
who has been there can remember the ever-infamous
Paya Lebar rerun, where you show up at the
airfiled day after day to get a seat. All I can
say is, "Thanks Helen Lee for making all my
Singapore stays bearable!" So I finally get a seat
on KC-10 (AKA indoor rainstorm). I was dead tired
and thrashed from the travelling. I did find a
spare pint of Tanduay from PI that got me through
the flight.
When
I landed, I went through the standard Brit customs
drill, "No bongs, knives, or explosives. ANY video
tapes will be confiscated and viewed for
pornography!"
My
boss picked me up and drove me to BEQ-8, where the
contractors stayed. It was Tuesday night. I
noticed that there was a huge party out front of
the BEQ. There was comely Filipina bartende
(Helen from Seamen's Club) who kept forcing me to
drink. And drink I did. It turned out that BJS
used to have a weekly shindig each Tuesday.
That
was my first exposure to DG. I met Harry Swartout,
Conrad Matt, Ray Weaver, George Laughlin, and many
others that night. I stayed for 6 years and ended
up in the local island band. Great memories.
1988
May to Jan 17 2000
NAME =
Harry Johnson
MY QUEST
= To say Hi to all my old friends still there
VT of a
SWALLOW = Who cares
E-MAIL =
fuelman808@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY
= American
UNIT =
Fuels Manager for Febroe, IPAC, BJS, DG21LLC
RANK/RATE/JOB
= I'm Ret. Navy E-8 Aviation Boatswan Mate. Worked
with a lot of good people on DG both Military and
Civilian.
MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Stroll Down Memory Lane
SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = Other
MY
WARSTORY = All the years I was there I was happy
and content. I met and fell in love with a very
lovely lady I hired in 1989 and married her in
2000 Feb. 14. We both worked for the Contractors
and she left in 2001 May. I had a heart attack
there in DG. But the great folks at the NSF Clinic
put me on a plane to Singapore and while in route
after take off I Died but the Flight Nurse and
Flight Sergeon brought me back so after three
months of extensive care at Singapore I was
allowed to travel to my home in PI and from there
to the US to continue my care at NNMC Bethesda
Hosp. My wife and I are living in the States now
and hope All is well in DG. Other than Bob Butts I
was the second Old timer still on the Island from
the Febroe Days. That's my story gang and believe
me if I could return to DG doing the same job as I
was doing I would No question about it. Good Luck
to all of you over there. We still have relatives
working on the Island so we are still in contact.
I did
two tours, from 1989-1990 and again from 1999-2000
NAME
= Burl Paugh
MY
QUEST = A real San Miguel, the kind from the
Philippines
VT
of a SWALLOW = Who cares?
E-MAIL
= paugh38@yahoo.com
NATIONALITY
= United States American
SERVICE
= Navy
UNIT
= Public Works, AIMD
RANK/RATE/JOB
= Currently E6
MY
INTEREST IN DG IS = Interested World Citizen
SUBJECT
OF MY STORY: = There I Was, Passed Out on The
Beach
MY
WARSTORY = I went back for a second tour in an
attempt to remember what I did the first time I
was there, and now here I am trying to remember it
all two times as much. But I have this
overwhelming feeling that I really enjoyed my
times there. Recently I have been checking
out the civilian job opportunities there.
Please send your insights into that if you have
any. To all who have volunteered their time
on DG, thanks for joining the team.
1999-2000
TODD
BRAY <tbray@tampabay.rr.com>
Well
I was on the rock from Jun99-jun00. And
After reading all of the great reasons why this
person should be this and this person should be
that, Your still missing ME! Don't forget
that no country is great with out a well run air
traffic control system. I mean honestly how
would we have gotten our mail. (the donkeys could
only carry it so far). And How on earth
could we have got our emergency supply of beer for
new years 2000 if not for your fearless and over
worked Air Traffic Controllers. How would
anyone got on or got off the island with out
us. There for I will accept the position
that I give to my self before my old sailor of the
year first class sleeps with half the island to
get it.
Man
you want war stories from the rail Barracks room
329. Man us AC's had it made while I worked
there we had a chief (if you could call here that)
that wore long jean dresses when she rode her bike
or did the moonlite run. She was so fucking
clueless. We had a schedule set up where we
work 3 days one week and 4 days the next.
Its a wonder anything got down with all the time
on the internet we spent. And the girls in
our divison well they keep up british morale i can
assure you. All and all my time on the
island was great. I feel though that we need
a Liver Transplant admin. He or she would
serve to get all our citizens at the top of the
list. I also feel that we need an island
Brew master to start and run our own brewery so we
can for go old born on dates and runs by all the
mwr people on our fresh beer.
Thanks
And what a great web page
AC2
Todd Bray
PS
Something should be done to get Cable and Wireless
off the island as soon as we take over
1999-2000
JAKE MILLER
<Thebigsexyjake59@aol.com>
Diego garcia was my first duty station
ever. i came there during 1999 at the tender age
of 19 as a lowly RMSN with big dreams and a
great attitude. I quickly got involved in island
activitys participating in 13 full moon
platoons, one cable and wireless challenge in 99
(placed 4th with team dirty name) was on the
soccor team, raced sailing reggattas (one
against russ smothers and that bastard barely
beat us), and many other activitys. each of
these activitys include a free shirt. needless
to say i have a drawer full of mwr t-shirts and
this is why i should be king of free
shirts. being mostly irish one of
the first things i got in diego was a nasty SDSS
(seven degree south sunburn) i recommend
aloevera with the painkiller stuff in it or
noxema (try it). for hangovers nothing beats
excedrin and gatorade or, some of that good old
buffalo water. as for drunkin foolishness next
time you snorkel in dg if ever, make your way
over to the end of the floating marina go out
about 5-10 yards and look down. if you were
there in 1999 youll probably find a bike that
you had go missing. yeah we got drunk stole
bikes and ramped them off of the dock in a blind
drunkin stooper. im not proud of it but it sure
as hell is funny when i think about it. the
thing i miss most about dg is looking up at
night on cannon point and seeing every star in
the sky, being on the beach with no noise other
than wind and water, and finally i miss real
phillipino lumpia made by people who really know
how to make it. to all my fellow diegotians i
wish you fair winds and following seas
1999-2000
Marcelo
Martinez <MartinezM@2mawnr.usmc.mil>
ted,
i
was on the island around the same time you were. i
was there 1999-2000. i love to visit this site and
see the pictures. a lot of the people i remember.
i am writing in regards to your picture of the
first race you were in. the guy in the boat with
you. is that chief evans? i could swear that it's
him but can't really tell. pleas let me know. and
do you know of any way to contact people form the
island. i would love to find old buddies from the
rock. please respond at your earliest convenience.
thanks,
HM3
Marcelo Martinez
1999-2000,
1992
(and others?)
Robert
E. Guttman" <robertguttman@juno.com>
I
happened
to run across your web sight. As a former
crew member of the Ghost Fleet, I can positively
identify two of the vessels illistrated. The
"hermaphrodyte" is the M/V American
Cormorant. So far as I am aware, she is
still on station at Fantasy Island. In any
case, she was still at
Diego
when I was there as Third Mate of the SS Green
Harbour in 1999-2000.
The
LASH ship in the photo between the group of
sailboats and the Union Jack is unquestionably the
SS Austral Rainbow. She carried barges
loaded
with
ammunition for the Air Force, as well as a pair of
tug boats to help maneuvver them. They were
loaded and discharged from the stern by
means
of an
enormous gantry crane, which could hoist 480
tons. I spent four months as her third mate
in 1992.
Actually,
I joined the Austral Rainbow in Thailand, where we
spent the following two months loading ammo before
sailing to Diego via Singapore.
The
military were in charge of loading the cargo into
our barges, and it took a rediculous amount of
time for them to do it. Of course, we
merchant seamen weren't exactly complaining,
because we were having a ball in Thailand.
When they finally finished loading the barges,
Swabbies and Air Farce actually had the nerve to
present each other with commendations for doing
such an efficient job! For our part, we
seamen could only laugh at them behind their
backs, because we all know that, in commercial
service, LASH ships like the Austral Rainbow
seldom even spend more than a single day in port.
By
the by, I was aboard the SS Green Harbour at Diego
Garcia for New Year's Eve 2000, when everybody was
so concerned about all "Millenium Bug". We
were required to notify the Navy and the steamship
company at midnight, both local and Greenwich Mean
Time, that the ship was "experiencing no
Y2-related problems". As far as I know, none
of the ships ever did have trouble. However,
the entire island blacked out 15 minutes before
midnight on New Year's Eve, causing a panic
amongst the drunken revellers ashore. To the
best of my knowledge, Fantasy Island was the only
place on the face of the earth where any such
thing occured.
99-01,
also 85-86 plus 1 month in '87, and 89-90
NAME =
Elisabeth "Red" Gambrell; E-MAIL =
seagambrell@yahoo.com
MY QUEST
= To retire and spend the remainder of my days at
the DGYC with a cold beer.
SEE HER ENTRY IN '85!
1999-2000
NAME =
justin adair; E-MAIL = justinadair@hotmail.com
NATIONALITY
= american; SERVICE = navy; UNIT = the dreaded
msgctr of ncts; RANK/RATE/JOB = e-3
MY
WARSTORY = ok before i cut and paste this bad boy
im gonna tell of its origins. this was when
i was in that grey area of being on the
island...about 5-6 months on and i was adjusting
pretty well playing basketball and playstation and
wakeboarding every now and again. then the
powers that be decided to change our divisions
watch schedule from a 4 duty section into a 3 duty
section. that means that we were devided
into three groups to watch the message center 24/7
no rest...ever so thats 56 hours a week. now
i know a lotta you are thinking thats nothing, im
just being a whiner, whatever, but its relative,
we had been in a 4 duty section working 42 hours a
week. so me and my fellow workers were
pissed, and unable to do anything...until it3
peetah phan dropped a complaint slip in the
captians box a couple months down the line. but i
was jus a lowly seamn so i wrote a fable for the
troops to rally around. everybody seemed to
like it...even the people that i made fun of while
i was there. ok...that was a long ass intro,
without further ado, i give you...as it was so
named by big bad it2 jason stahr...the battle of
assilon.
IT
IS NO WONDER DIEGO GARCIA IS CALLED THE FOOTPRINT
OF FREEDOM. THIS IS THE STORY OF THAT ISLAND
AND THE ORIGIN OF ITS NOW INFAMOUS MONIKER.
IT ALL STARTED IN MAY 1999. WITH THE ARRIVAL
OF A HEADSTRONG YOUNG LAD NAMED ADAIR, AND HIS
COMPANIONS BELLIS, BUTLER, AND READ. DUE TO
THIS NOW FAMOUS GROUP AND ONE OTHER TO ARRIVE
LATER IN THIS EPIC ADVENTURE, THE ONCE KHAKI
AND ADP DOMINATED ISLAND OF DIEGO GARCIA WAS
LIBERATED.
AS
SOON AS ADAIR STEPPED ON SOLID GORUND, AFTER A
FLIGHT THAT WOULD HAVE LEFT THE MOST STRONG MINDED
OF MEN TO INSANITY, HE REALIZED THAT IS WAS BEING
OVERRUN BY WANDERING TRIBES. FROM HIS EARLY
ESTIMATES OUR HERO BELIEVED THAT THERE WERE AT
LEAST 6-7 TRIBES, IN TRUTH THERE WERE MORE THAN
20. THERE WERE THE NSF, WHO WERE MIGHTY IN
NUMBER BUT LACKED THE MENTAL CAPACITY TO BE AN
ELITE TRIBE. THE PSD HAD CONTROL OF THE
CURRENCY SYSTEM BUT WERE ALSO TOO SLOW MINDED TO
TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THEIR RESOURCES. THERE WERE
MANY OTHERS, THE PATRONS AND PATWINGS THAT
CONTROLLED THE AIR, THE METOC THAT COTROLLED
THE WEATHER AND THE NBS THAT CONTROLLED THE
MEDIA. BUT THE TWO MOST FEARSOME TRIBES WERE
EASILY THE ADP AND THE NCTS KHAKI. THE ADP
WERE KNOWN TO NOT DO ANY WORK FOR MONTHS ON END
AND STILL LIVE AS GOOD AS ANYBODY, AND THEY HAD NO
IDEA WHAT TO DO IF THEY EVER DID NEED TO
WORK. EVEN THE ADP HAD A STRONGER AND MORE
EFFICIENT ENEMY IN TH DREADED NCTS KHAKI.
THIS TRIBE WAS RUTHLESS, OFTEN SHOWING NO
SIGNS OF HUMANITY WHAT SO EVER. THEY WERE
RUMORED TO ONCE HAVE GIVEN A YOUNG OF THE ADP
TRIBE TO THE SHRKS JUST FOR SHITS AND
GIGGLES. THIS IS HOW THINGS WERE BEFORE THE
PARTY OF ADAIR ARRIVED, AND THIS IS HOW THINGS
WOULD HAVE STAYED FOR GOD-KNOWS HOW LONG.
BUT ARRIVE THEY DID. AND THINGS DID CHANGE,
IT JUST TOOK A WHILE.
IN
THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER "THE
ARRIVAL," AS IT WAS LATER CALLED IN THE MANY
RETELLINGS OF THIS ADVENTURE, THE NCTS KHAKIS TOOK
ALL OF OUR PARTY IN AND WELCOMED THEM. THE
KHAKIS ACTED LIKE THINGS ON THE ISLAND WERE AS
SOUND AS A WELL-OILED MACHINE. ADAIR SOON
FOUND OUT THE EPIC STRUGGLES OF THE MSGCTR
TRIBE. HE BECAME A STUDENT OF THE WISEST OF
THE MSGCTR TRIBE, IT2 HALL. FORM HALL HE
LEARNED OF THE DECEPTION AND DECEIT OF THE KHAKIS
AND THE LAZYNESS AND CONCEIT OF THE ADP, AND HE
LEARNED THE WAYS OF BATTLE. HE NEVER HAD THE
MOTIVATION OR INCLINATION TO BATTLE THESE ONCE
MIGHTY TRIBES. THATS WHEN THE FINAL MEMBER
OF OUR ADVENTURING PARTY ARRIVED.
NOW
YOU WOULDNT KNOW TO LOOK AT ADAIR THAT HE WAS AN
INTENSE ALLY IN BATTLE. BUT IT2 STAHR,
DEFINITELY LOOKED LIKE A FIGHTER. HAVING
ARRIVED WITH A LARGE SCAR ACROSS THE BACK OF HIS
NECK FROM A BATTLE WITH THE KHAKI TRIBE OF A
NEIGHBORING ISLAND CALLED HAWAII, HE WAS ALL TO
READY TO WAGE WAR AGAINST EVERYBODY NOT OF THE
MSGCTR TRIBE. AND THUS BEGINS THE BATTLE OF
FREEDOM ON DIEGO GARCIA.
SOON
AFTER IT2 HALL WAS LOST TO NORFOLK, IT2 STAHR
BECAME THE ELDER MEMBER OF TRIBE. HE RALLIED
HIS LOWLY TROOPS TO SET FIRE TO THE SMALL VILLAGES
ALONG THE KHAKI BORDER. AND FOR HIS KNIGHTS
THE ORDER WAS MORE DIFFICULT TAKE OUT THE ADP.
IT
WAS WELL KNOWN IN THOSE DAYS THAT THE ADP WERE IN
BED WITH THE KHAKI. THE ADP WERE A LAZY
PEOPLE, THEY WOULD O ANYTHING TO STAY OUT OF THE
PATH OF WORK INCLUDING JOINING FORCES WITH THE
KHAKI. IT2 STAHR UNDERSTOOD THIS SO HE PUT
THE ORDER OUT. NOW ADAIR WAS STILL UNDECIDED
ON WHETHER THIS WAR WAS ALL TOGETHER NEEDE BUT AS
SOON AS HE SAW THE LAZINESS OF THE ADP IN ITS
ENTIRETY HE KNEW THAT FREEDOM HAD TO BE
ATTAINED. EACH OF THE KNIGHTS LED AN
ENORMOUS BRIGADE, THEYRE PLAN WAS TO ENCOMPASS THE
ADP STRONGHOLD AND SLOWLY WITHER IT AWAY.
KNOWING OF THE ADP LAZINESS THE KNIGHTS WERE
CONFIDENT THAT NO SUPPORT OR SUPPLIES FROM OTHER
FACTIONS OF ADP WOULD BE COMING ANYTIME
SOON. THE IRONY OF IT WAS THAT THE ADP WERE
SO LAZY THE STRONGHOLD ITSELF DID NOT SEND WORD OF
THE ATTACK UNTIL THEY WERE ALL BUT DESTROYED.
AFTER THE STRONGHOLD WAS PLUNDERED AND LOST TO THE
MSGCTR THE REST OF THE ADP TRIBE WERE FAR AND FEW
BETWEEN AND EASILY DESTROYED. THE KHAKI
WOULD PROVE A MUCH GREATER ADVISARY.
FEARING
AN OFFENSIVE FORM THE KHAKI STAHR PULLED HIS
KNIGHTS ADP TERRITORY AND LET HIS TROOPS CONQUER
THE SMALLER BANDS OF ADP LEFT. ONE KNIGHT
WAS SO INEPT THAT WHEN HE HEARD THE ORDERS TO
RETURN HE WENT BACK TO THE ADP STRONG HOLD.
AND THERE KNIGHT READ WOULD STAY, LIKE A
MORON UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR.
NOW
THEN THE OTHER KNIGHTS ALL WERE VERY POWERFUL AND
BRILLIANT INDEED. ADAIR YOU WILL SOON LEARN
ABOUT, BELLIS WAS SO FEARED DUE TO HIS
DEDICATION TO THE MILITARY, AND BUTLER STRUCK FEAR
IN THOSE WHO APPOSED HIM DUE TO HIM AND HIS TROOPS
ABILITY TO FIGHT FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME
WITHOUT STOPPING TO EAT..... [ed note:
Justin! Where's the rest???]
April
1999 - present
KEITH
HORNING <twenty2acaciaave@yahoo.com
MY QUEST
= To leave here without being sent to rehab.
VT of a
SWALLOW = I don't know but it's better then a
"spitz"
NATIONALITY
= United States; SERVICE = Navy; UNIT = Air Ops
RANK/RATE/JOB
= My first command and I didn't even work within
my own rate (ET).
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 = Rule of thumb: Never get wasted
at your chiefs going away party when someone is
video-taping it. Especially if the tape is
going to be shown at work to EVERYONE in the
department.
Oh
yes, the Rock. The one place where you can
get plastered and it won't cost you more then
$10.00, the beer is older then the plantation
(that's a bad thing), slot machines are considered
entertainment, and you here that oh so very much
asked question "why aren't there any titty bars?".
To
all of you coming here. It's a great place,
just try not to do everything your first month
here.
To
everyone who doesn't know who I am, I'm the guy
who always wore the Iron Maiden shirts (yes, the
one who looked like a jackass when "dancing"
drunk).
Feb 99
- Feb 00
KURT
ROSENBAUM <dick_styles@hotmail.com>
MY QUEST
= Huh?!?!?; VT of a SWALLOW = Huh?!?!?!? (Ed
Note: Kids. Obviously not a Monte
Python Fan)
NATIONALITY
= American; SERVICE = USN; UNIT = NCTS Diego
Garcia; RANK/RATE/JOB = IT2
MY
WARSTORY = it aint really a story. i just left
DGAR and George Gesner sent me a link to the 7 Deg
South web page. I played with those guys the last
2 months i was there. it was a blast. if they had
asked me sooner to play with em', i would probably
be sittin there now drinkin!!! i really had a good
time. i tried to email you ted,, but i keep gettin
errors. if you need updated photos of the band,
talk to george or jimmy of the band. i sent em
some. nice web page!! ciao!!!
1999 -
????
MIGNONETTE
AGUSTINO PRONDZINSKI
<pencilpusher@hotmail.com>
What is
Your Quest? To serve 1 year in Diego Garcia
and eat the forbidden coconut crab.
What is
the Terminal Velocity of a Swallow? 32
FT/SEC
Were you
ever on Diego Garcia? No
Tell Me
All About Yourself: I'm a Yeoman at day and
a Mom at night. Loves to sing but my hubby always
tells me just to keep my day job. Will soon be
there in October to work in NCTS Admin. I love
CRABS and the coconut specie intrigue me. Hope to
see them vis-a-vis (and on my plate!)
Comments:
This
website
is great. Provides more info than my welcome
aboard package and my sponsor. Keep it up.
July
1999 - Oct 1999
BILLY
PETTIJOHN <sailor33@flash.net>
What is
Your Quest? to replace Neptune as lord of
the seas
What is
the Terminal Velocity of a Swallow? Prior to
the asphalt;60 mph
On the
M/V Margaret B. Chouest. Hopefully I'll be
back at DG in 12/99, but with another shipping
company.
Jan -
Mar 1999
EDWARD
BUCZEK <buczek@mindspring.com>
What is
Your Quest? To return to Paradise
What is
the Terminal Velocity of a Swallow? As fast
as it wants to
Naval
Media Center as OIC. Retired Navy
journalist. Spent three months in paradise as the
interim officer in charge of the Naval Media
Center broadcast detachment. Loved every minute of
it and was sad to leave. My favorite hangouts were
snorkling in Turtle Cove and the Ex-Pat on Friday
evening.
April
1999-2000
MELISSA
PARK <parkmd@nctsdg.navy.mil>
What is
Your Quest? To leave before Monte does
What is
the Terminal Velocity of a Swallow? drunk or
sober?
How did
you find my page? NCTS home page
RM type
on island at R-site. Young and stupid, fresh off
training wheels. Perfect place to
be!!!;-) Was told that this place was hell,
obviously those people didn't do the right thing.
I came here full of dread, now I don't want to
leave. While I was here I fell in love with a
great guy but like all things Dodge, nothing lasts
longer than a year. If he ever reads this, I
never stopped thinking about you!!! And for
those wondering, the hash house is a coffee house
now!!!! For future residents of paradise,
treat it as the heaven that it is. And females,
don't get a big head there are more where you came
from.
1999-Present.
Also 1984-1989
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.
1999-Present
BECKIE
HOLLOWAY <rholloway@diego.af.mil>
Finally
made it to paradise. It's much more than I
expected. I have been having a great time
and late December we caught a 60
lb.
yellowfin tuna and also won a free day of
fishing on the Ocean Master for getting the
largest fish in December.
It
doesn't take long to get a tan in these
parts. The weather is so great and the
humidity doesn't seem to bother me in the
least. I haven't had the opportunity to
experience those torrential rainstorms that I've
heard about. I am located in BOQ 8, on the
lagoon side and I'm sure I'll get the best of any
rain on this end.
I
hear things are not quite what they used to be
when you were stationed here. There are not
as many wild parties and I hear that things have
toned down quite a bit.
I
have been putting in quite a few hours and my time
has been very limited. I have a ton of
pictures of the Island and have been scanning them
for my family. I'll send you a few so you
can use in your webpage. I have put together
a photo album of Diego for my daughter and am
currently working on another. I have some
great shots of the island and my current project
is people and places (buildings - stores, church,
etc). If you are looking for something
specific on Diego I would be happy to photograph
it, scan it and send it to you. I'm sending
you a shot I took in front of BOQ-8. It was
taken during a full moon and is really
eerie. I also have shots of dolphin,
chicken, crabs, donkey, etc. I'm currently
working on a personal documentary of sorts, for my
family and friends. When I've completed it
I'll send you a copy.
I'm
really loving the island and have become a biking
fool. So far I've made it to Donkey
Gate 3 times and once to Turtle Cove.
I've also taken up snorkeling.
I
found it surprising to find banana
and papaya
trees on Diego. Its obvious that someone is
taking care of them. I think they belongs to
one of the Philipino's. We located them near
the airport towards the pier.
[
Beckie, a.k.a. Diego Jane, sent the following
story she's entitled, "The Coconut Ordeal" ]
Brendan
was trying to get me some coconuts. He couldn't
reach them because they were about 40 feet up in
the tree. I could see his mind working on
how he would get to these precious fruits. He
devised a very long pole with a hook on the
end. It wasn't too stable so he found a
thick rope, put it on the end of the pole, raised
it to the top of the tree, and when it was around
the coconut he would pull on the rope and behold -
a coconut. I watched in awe as he clumsily
ran backwards, not yet on the ground, as he feet
tried futilely to catch up with his ass.
Little did I know, this was only the beginning of
the ordeal.
The
first attempt worked pretty well, although he fell
on his ass while trying to avoid getting hit in
the head with a falling coconut. My mind
drifted off contemplating weather I should take a
run home to get my bicycle helmet as protection.
Mind you each of these weight about 10 lbs before
their husked. It was just too funny.
Next,
he decided that he wasn't satisfied with only one
coconut. He placed the rope back on the
hook, on the pole, and slowly raised the rope back
up to the top of the tree. He then carefully
placed the rope around several coconuts. He
had to pull and shake very hard on the rope to get
the coconut to come down from the tree. Suddenly
about 6 coconuts came rushing down toward the
jungle cover. Again, Brendan made a mad dash
backward to avoid getting boinked. He was able to
keep his balance better this time. Of course
I was running back and forth to gather our
harvest.
Brendan
then
decided that we had enough and pulled on the rope
to get it out of the tree. The rope wouldn't
budge. It was stuck on a stem from the
coconuts. He tugged and pulled and shook to
no avail. Then he decided that he needed to put
some weight on the rope so he tied a loop at the
bottom and placed his foot into the loop. He
swung back and forth - Like “Tarzan" on this swing
trying to loosen the rope from the tree. It
wouldn't budge. I walked over and attempted to
assist in his venture, seeing that he was getting
the coconuts for me. Both he and I stood in
the loop, at the end of the rope, and swung back
and forth like – “Tarzan & Jane”. The
rope wouldn't budge. We decided that it
might help for us to both pull the rope at an
angle
positioned
at a set point on the ground. About the only
thing that did happen is the tree bent slightly
from our pulling on it. The rope was still stuck.
Brendan
decided to use a helpful mechanical device -
sometimes referred to as a "mechanical
advantage". Basically, it was a pulley type
of wheel that he chained around the fence and
placed the end of the rope into it. Again,
we pulled, and pulled, and shook, and pulled with
all our might but were still unable to budge the
rope. Hum, What to do next?
I
grabbed the end of the rope and whipped it around
like a jump rope hoping that it would weaken the
coconut stem. In the mean time, Brendan had
about enough of this and went to get the
van. He was determined that he would get the
rope out of the tree. He backed up the van
and tied the end of the rope to the van and slowly
drove away. The rope was taut and you could
see how it pulled the tree slightly over.
Finally the rope came loose, as he drove off into
the sunset.
Both
he and I were dripping with sweat and exhausted
from "The Coconut Ordeal". I don't think that
we'll be trying this for quit some time. I
guarantee that these sweet coconuts will be
thoroughly enjoyed as I reflect on our harvest. I
guess Tarzan really is on Diego Garcia. The
moral to this story: The sweetest fruit is
the one that’s free.
1999 -
Present
CATHY
KONN <konnC@dg.navy.mil>
Were you
ever on Diego Garcia? Yes! I'm here now.
Been here for 6 mos...halfway through.
Tell Me
All About Yourself: Let's see...Hmm...I'm a
Pisces and I love the water...I'm a Navy
Journalist....38, divorced and loving the fun in
the sun, laid-back atmosphere of DG. Working out,
tanning and drinking milk! Favorite hangout on DG:
The Expat on Friday nights for Karaoke and
Hurricanes! Diego Garcia is definintely a
unique world. If you know how to relax and have a
good time, you'll love it here. But then, I tend
to keep myself entertained no matter where I am!
1999 -
Present
DAVE
SPORKIA <djspork@usa.net>
Currently
stationed
on Diego Garcia, been in the Navy 15 yrs.
1999-present
& 1994
MOLLY
CLARK <n34s@hq.nctsdg.navy.mil>
What is
Your Quest? travel and tan
Radio
Man was stationed here in 1994 on board a little
ship in the lagoon had to come back for another
holiday, I am MISS DG for the year 1999. Thanks
for the site I am looking for a Friend who was
stationed here with me in 94...Timmy Ray if you
are out their write me...Molly
1999 (en
route to paradise)
TODD
MACDONALD <tarheeltodd@hotmail.com>
Were you
ever on Diego Garcia? No, but I will be
stationed there in about 3 months
I'm
a free spirited guy who got tired of having sex with
women of the United States. So, at the ripe age of
33, bored with my life, I decided to join the Navy
and go global and have sex with women from other
countries. Unfortunately, my first duty station will
be Diego Garcia.
Need
more pictures from the nude beaches in Diego. That
is if a nude beach does actually exist.
EDITOR'S
NOTE: Todd, you have the aspirations we all
had in our youth. But you used the correct
word - "unfortunately" - to describe your first
assignment and its possibilities for endless,
mindless sex (with women). |