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 WAR STORIES FROM PARADISE
You have traveled back to 1999!
Entries are posted by the year the writer arrived, so be sure to check either side of the year
you're looking for to find your old buddies, shipmates, and sweethearts!

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).