From Marty Juul <mjuul@comcast.net> on Feb 16, 2008:  I thought you might want to know but Craig Abbey died this week.  He was the big MSGT assigned to GEODSS in 1986-1987.  Craig and I were from the same hometown in Western NY and my brother who has gotten to know him over the years called me on Tuesday to let me know.  Editor's Note:  Craig had a very quick wit, and as funny as they come.  He was a great guy, and it's a shame he went so young.
 
 

From David L. Trewolla <DavidTre7949@aol.co>  EO3 Steven B. Benson was an Equipment Operator in Alpha Company of Detail Dingo for NMCB 133, homeported in Gulfport, Mississippi, was fatally injured in a construction accident while dismantling the boom of a mobile crane at the end of a work day.  As I recall, a portion of the boom collapsed and crushed him when he removed a cotter pin.  Steven was a man of Christian character and served the Navy Seabees with honor and dedication as evidenced by his promotions.  He was well liked and respected by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.  Steven had served in the battalion since approximately June 1971 and was on his second deployment, the first being to Okinawa in 1971-72.  I cannot recall Steven's home and family situation, but ask that you please add his name to the memorial page as one who gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

I saw where Lt. Trewolla had given you the info on Benson who was killed in a crane accident.  I remember it well.  He had turned his life around from drugs and booze and was a great guy.  He always carried a little bible in his front pocket that he called his "truckin' bible".   Here's a photo from my cruise book.   Terry Mross.

From Eddie in 1999:  Were you ever on Diego Garcia?  YES - 1971/72 WITH NMCB 71... Served in the Navy for 22 years, retired from the SEABEES in 1981.  Currently live in St. Cloud, Florida and am now fully retired.  Enjoyed your web page, would like to hear from shipmates I served with in DGAR.
Received June 9, 2000:  "My husband really enjoyed going on the net and reminiscing about the places he had served.   He was a great fisherman and lover of nature,   He enjoyed Diego's natural habitat immensely.     He went in with the second battalion and was there to start building the base, before the barracks was there.  I am sorry to say he passed away last August.    A great void is now in our lives without him...."

It is with deepest regret that I relate the passing away of Bos'n Joe Cornwell in October of 2003.  Joe succumbed from his battle with cancer. We received the word aboard the MV 1st Lt. Alex Bonnyman, Joe's "homestead" ship. His service to the Merchant Marine, his Union, his fellow Seafarers, and the Republic shall not be forgotten by
      His shipmate,
      Taylor Clear
      <bilgeman@aol.com>

From Dan Hurley <danphurl@msn.com> I was Alfa Company Commander of Det Chagos (NMCB-71), and I was there when C.S. Cummins was fatally burned in the desalination plant boiler failure.   He was covered with superheated steam, ran from the building and was held in the infirmary until an emergency C-130 could come to get him later in the day.  I think he died the next day at Utapao in Thailand.  Sorry to report such a sad story.

From Patrick Saunders  <p.saunders@ambt.net>  I was on diego from October 1971 to May of 1972, while with Bravo Co., MCB 1. We relieved MCB 40 who promptly got the hell of there.  My memories and there are many, are a mixture of good, bad and absolutely terrible.
     I notice that from the warstories, that if everyone who says that they were there, the morning that the boiler blew in the Desalination barge, and killed Chip Cummings, that it must of been a mass convention.
     Unfortunately, that is not the truth for there were only those who were going on shift, as Chip was coming off shift, when the disaster happened. I was working in the camp power station that morning, we worked 8 on and 16 off, and it was a common occurrence to feel the explosions shaking the building, from blowing up the reef for aggregate. That morning, when the boiler blew, it was louder and closer and the building did not shake. I can remember running towards the direction of the explosion and coming to the barge. The DeSal crew, who slept in the same hut as me, were there, and I walked over to see what had happened. Chip was in the shower area, and he was alive, barely. The long and short of it, was that he had been boiled alive from the super-heated steam that tore through the bulkhead that separated the shower area and the boiler. Chip's skin was hanging loose on him and it came off in your hand if you tried to move him.
     The medics came and took him to the hospital, and after waiting hours and hours for a 130 to fly to the Rock, and flying him to Thailand, more hours, where he was put on a 141 for Japan. They told us that he died in Japan, but all of us hoped that he had died long before that.
     Chip,  a kid who who had done his tour in the Nam, before coming to the Rock, died as the result of the awarding of a contract to the lowest bidder. No purple hearts, no parades, may he rest in peace.

Killed while aboard the USS L. Y. SPEAR (AS-36) while at Diego Garcia, in a accident on the helo deck.   He was holding Division Quarters on the 01 or 02 deck that morning due to the heat in the S-Division spaces.  At the same time, the Deck Division was moving a boom (which had been Gerry-rigged) when a metal line snapped. His division watched in horror as Ensign Guiao's head was cut off by the whipping line. As a side note, the ship's doctor was totally hysterical and the Corpsmen had to take over.  The L. Y. SPEAR was his first assignment after Officer Training.  Info from Mary Ellen Nigh of the L. Y. SPEAR Association, and Teresa (Raver) McGlinsey TM1 veteran.
 
 

It was with deep sadness that I returned from the war and learned (7 months late) that Bill Godsey, my good friend, had passed away from cancer.  Bill was the HMFIC of the Navy Air Terminal for five years during the FEBROE period, and I was priviledged to have worked with him during my year (87-88).  Bill was a retired USAF MSGT, and was the most knowledgeable aerial porter I ever met.  He knew everything, and I mean everything, there was to know about moving cargo and people in and out of DG, and he taught me a lot - about payloads, but also about how to enjoy life.  Bill drank like a fish.  Except on Saturday afternoons and all day Sunday when he invested his very soul in his favorite past time - fishing.  Bill kept about 100 rods and reels leaned up on a bike rack in front of his room, and knew ever filipino coxswain and fish gutter by first name.  Bill was the first person to catch a billfish off DG, and here's a picture of him and that first Marlin.  Like I said, Bill loved to drink too, and I remember when he drove home from the Expat club and side-swiped about a dozen cars, weaving all over the road, followed by the BIOT Police and the Navy SPs, lights flashing and all, in the slowest slow speed chase in recorded history.  They took his license for that, and so he decked out a bike with a radio and lights and rode that all over the flight line.  Since he owned the pax and crew buses, he never did have to walk!

There's lots more stories about Bill - all of them funny or friendly, and if anyone has more, let me know and I'll put it here for the rest of the crew to read.

Bill, here's to you, old buddy!  May God bless you in fisherman's heaven, and may he bring comfort to Mary Ann, your wonderful wife.

Your friend forever,
Ted.

 
 

 Lester Jones, Aircraft Mechanic
1989

Dave was the Petty Officer in Charge of the AFRTS Station on DG in 1979, and was Station Manager of the AM and FM radio stations, as well as Channel 8.  He was often seen on Diego Forum and The Evening Report.  He wrote the article on "Coconut Diplomacy" featured on this web site, which was also published by The Navy Times back in '79.  After DG, he was stationed at Adak.  He retired from the Navy and the Federal Aviation Administration, and was working as a Public Affairs Specialist for the Defense Energy Support Center at the time of his death from cancer.  He was buried in California in a full military funeral.  Thanks to Thomas Lawson for this information.

That's Dave with the LA Harbor College T-Shirt

From Larry Matthews <ffhiker@yahoo.com>, 17 Feb 08:   I ran across your Diego Garcia web page and really enjoyed it. Sadly, in your section honoring those who have served and passed on, I also found out about the death of my good friend Dave Kronberger in 2000. Dave served at Diego Garcia in the latter part of his Navy career. In his early days, as a JO2, he served with me aboard the USS ORISKANY. I have included a photo of he and I aboard ship. It's pretty silly but it shows his fun side. He was a great guy and died way too young!
     The photo was taken aboard Oriskany on 8-15-73. We were both in X Divison; I was a YN3 in the Captain's Office and he served in the Public Affairs Office. He is the guy in the L.A. Harbor College T shirt in the right side of the photo.
     Just a short story: One day, aboard ship, Dave told me that he grew up in Gardena, California. I was shocked as I had also lived there from about 1957 to 1963. He told me he had a sister named Jessie. Just then I flashed back to my grammer school days. A week later, after checking my old photos at home I brought him a class photo showing his sister Jessie and me in the same class in 3rd grade at Gardena Elementary in 1959!  He was totally blown away by that! Me too!
     I just thought you might want to add his photo to your web site. Thanks for honoring a great guy on your web site!  Best wishes,  Larry R. Matthews, Yuba City, CA (US NAVY, YN3 Retired)
 
 

From:  Daniel Tegtmeier <dptegtmeier@worldnet.att.net> One of the saddest days on the Island....Would like all to remember SK2 Michael L. McBride, USN, September 22, 1979.  Seven (7) of us went lobster hunting out near Alpha Co. on the seaward side of the island.  We were out about half way to the reef when a wave knocked us off the walkway.  Mike never made it back to shore and the six of us were unable to get to him.  Mike, to this day Buddy, I toast your memory.  YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN MY FRIEND!

I am very sorry to tell you that my father, Jim, passed away on Thursday afternoon. It was very peaceful.
     He started to feel ill three weeks ago, and was admitted to hospital for observation after being diagnosed with severe dehydration. However he continued to decline and for the last ten days he was not conscious. The end came very gently for him.
     Dad was a good soul and a kind and gentle man. I will always remember him with a smile, he was a good father to me. Even in the last weeks, he continued to teach me valuable lessons about life, love and spirit.
     We will be having a memorial celebration of his life at the house next Saturday, September 28th, between 3 and 5 pm Central Time. So for those of you in the UK raise a toast to him around 9 pm, and for those of you elsewhere, be with us in spirit. As part of it we'll be reading emails from people around the world who remember him. If you would like me to read something, please email it to me.
     If you would like to donate to charity in his memory, I'm sure he'd be pleased if you donated to the MS Society. He always wanted to find a cure for my mother.
     He was a braw Strichen loon. We'll miss him.
In life
Brian, Becky and Cameron Park

If you knew Jim, or have information you'd like to pass along about him, his son would be glad to hear from you - just email Brian at floman@austin.rr.com.

From Carl "Vig" Villanueva:  Alton Rollins, who was on DG in 72, died in a plane accident...an experimental aircraft he and his brother built. he was an ABHAN on  diego...but left the navy as an ASW2...he switched mos. evidently, he got married and didn't want his wife to endure the hardships of him being away.   See Vig's tribute to Tex at http://www.members.tripod.com/carlvillanueva/id22.htm

     My daughter, Andrea Robin Schiesser, was aboard the L.Y. SPEAR as one of the first contingencies of women aboard a naval vessel (non-combatent) and went along on the SPEAR when it was called up during the Iranian Crisis in 1980.
     Andrea told us that she was one of the first women to pull a lot of Captain's Masts and was first woman to serve in the brig of the SPEAR while in Diego Garcia. She also was on bread and water. She also was "punished" (ha ha she said) to serve time in the boiler room on SPEAR.  Her father is ex-Navy officer and he and I know boilers inside out and outside in - Andrea too, so she didn't consider it "punishment" to be down there. Actually, she was a good person and loved us very much, however, parents never know, unless told by their offspring, what they did . . . when. Andrea told us a lot, but not all. I still have her Shellback Certificate (framed) hanging in our family room, along with only one of her ribbons we could find, and a photo of her in Florida at boot.
     Andrea married Fred Cosier, who was also on the SPEAR. Then, they divorced, after their first baby boy was born stillborn. Andrea never got over that. She went on to marry again and had a daughter who is 13 now, and another boy, who is 5 now. We love our Andrea, no matter the "things" she pulled - she was one of the guys all of her life.
     Please pass the word:

     Anyone who knew or knew of Andrea, please e-mail comments or whatever you knew about her to me at my e-mail. Thank you and God Bless all of you.  Trish

Trish Schiesser, Author (Andrea's mother) <Clara19126@msn.com>.
Bob Schiesser, Port Engineer (Military Sealift Command PAC)

NAME = Trish Schiesser, mother of LY SPEAR contingency, Andrea Robin Schiesser, Cosier, McDonald, Rose
MY QUEST = To tell the members of this group about my daughter who served aboard LY SPEAR in Diego Garcia 1980.
VT of a SWALLOW = Depends upon how big the drink is.
E-MAIL = lilreddog1@Yahoo.com
NATIONALITY = Caucasian, USA
SERVICE = U.S. NAVY
UNIT = Boatswain's Mate
RANK/RATE/JOB = E/2 or E/3. Deceased.
MY INTEREST IN DG IS = Other
SUBJECT OF MY STORY: = Other
MY WARSTORY = My daughter, Andrea, was a member of the crew of the L.Y. Spear, out of Norfolk, VA. Her ship was called up during the Iranian Crisis in 1980.  She was never where she was supposed to be at the time to be there, she had more Captain's Mast's than anybody else I know of. She wound up in the brig and in the engine room, on bread and water, while in Diego Garcia. But, she was a brilliant woman of 18 who didn't know who she was. She could have attended Annapolis, but puposely flunked the test so she could follow in her father's footsteps (he was in the Merchant Marine at the time)around the world. So, she opted for a ship, and she got the SPEAR. She became one of the first women Shellbacks on a non-combatant vessel. Her father never became a Shellback, since he was on non-navy ships while crossing, but he was an Officer in the Naval Reserve, so Andrea saluted him when they were together. Andrea was a sweet, kind, and generous woman, who loved her family very much - maybe that is why she screwed up her naval career and lasted only two years until it was mutually agreed upon that she exit the service. She was married, first marriage, to Fred Cosier, who was aboard the LY SPEAR - has anyone heard of him? or heard from him recently? He doesn't know that our Andrea, at age 40, died of breast, lung and brain cancer on July 19,2002. We miss her terribly and these websites really contribute to our well being. She is up in heaven now, looking down upon all of you, all of us, sending nothing but golden words to cover our heads as we plow along in life. If you knew her, please send me an e-mail at: Clara19126@msn.com - I am Trish Schiesser, her mother. God Bless everyone of you.
 
 

Jeffrey Sellers died from some medical condition while at Diego Garcia, aboard the USS L. Y. Sellers (AS-36).   His passing was relayed by Mary Ellen Nigh of the L. Y. SPEAR Association.
 
 

Carl "Vig" Villanueva found out a few months ago that ABHAN Gary Starr, of Cocoa Beach, Florida, who I was stationed with on Diego from ''72-''73, died suddenly in the spring of '98 from lung cancer.  His family has very few photos of him from his stay on the island and would appreciate any images of him anyone might have.  If you've got any, please contact his brother John Starr at superstarrs1999@aol.com.

From Charles E Kuhn <cekuhn@earthlink.net> I went to A school and was stationed in Diego Garcia with an Electrician named Howard Turner. We worked together in the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration shop. We actually had a lot of close calls while working together,  an electrical explosion at T-site and a couple of others I won't bore you with.  Howard finally lost his life at the Public Works site next to the fire house. I was told they were going to name an enlisted mans club after him. I saw a reference to the Turner club. I miss Howard a lot!

From Steven Newby <dragon40@wi.rr.com> I remember Howard Turner, we drank a few together, checkers w/shot glasses as checkers, if ya lost the game ya finished every shot still on the board one after the other. He was just a kid like the rest of us. I was on duty at the main power plant that day, He was one of the crew putting up a pole for an antenna at the fire house out by the Main Power Plant. The cable with the telephone pole suspended snapped, all but Howard ran for the overhang of the fire house roof, he never made it. I remember the guy's from his shop taking up a collection in a coffee can to send to his family. I have spoken of Diego Garcia and of Howard to many people over the years, it was a lonely place for kid to die.

Editor's note:  Yes, they did name the enlisted club after Howard.  Here's a photo of the plaque to his honor in the club:

From Ian Morse, Captain, Royal Marines.  I submit my thoughts on the late George Walton ( ROPO1) Diego Garcia 1985 - 1986.  He was the Sheriff and I was the Prosecutor who identified and brought to trial the first ( ? only )  murderer on DG. A difficult but rewarding tour of duty which was greatly enhanced by my deep friendship and respect for a man who had the unenviable duty to ensure everyone did theirs. I well remember the drinking sessions in both Febroe and ex-pats clubs where we could escape all responsibility and be ourselves. He will be greatly missed by all those who really understood him.  Rest in Peace George in the sure knowledge you served the Footprint of Freedom well.

I have someone I'd like to remember in your link for DG alumni that have passed on.  SSgt William (Bill) Weiglenda was the AMC Ops admin troop during most of my tour on the island (Dec 97 to Dec 98).  As I remember, he spent nearly two and a half years on DG.  (I think he just didn't like the follow-ons the Air Force was giving him, so he just kept extending!).  Bill wasn't the best admin guy in the world, but he was a really caring soul that would give you the shirt off his back.  Bill finally left DG in mid 1998, with an assignment to the 35th Security Forces Squadron at Misawa AB, Japan.  Around March of 99, I was contacted via e-mail by one of my AMC Ops comrades from Dodge, Ed Andre, who pointed me to an Air Force news release about a guy drowning in a scuba diving accident at a lake near Misawa.  It was Bill.  Needless to say, I was shocked and saddened.

Bill, I'm proud to say I knew you, may you rest with the angels.

Jeff Nash

My father was a radio officer in the merchant marines and was in Diego Garcia in the 80's, but I'm not certain of the date.  He was a ham radio operator, his call sign was KQAB, and he was involved with that on the island.  He was on different ships but I believe it was the Maj. Stephen W. Pless when he was in Diego Garcia.  He loved Diego Garcia and he told of the Donkey you could not give beer because it was against the law.  He said he rode his bike to the post office everyday to pick up the mail.  He died October 28, 1993 of a heart attack in Elizabeth, Colorado.  He died before the movie Ed Wood came out, but I know he would of really gotten a kick out of having the same name, he was very funny.   I am his daughter and thought I'd write and see if anyone remembered him.  Thanks, Sandy Cagle <cloud798@suddenlink.net>