SEALs Pictures Page Two ,http://www.sealtwo.org/photos02/Page02, Navy SEAL photos of Doc RIojasVideo: Local Navy SEAL may earn Medal of Honor -- Newsday.com
These guys, in these photos, are all from UDT 4, I
left UDT 4 in oct. 1949, Some got out and some made the NAVY their
career , WhenCook mentioned big JOHN and you talked a bout
Scolice I went looking at some pictures I have I thought you might
like to see, they are yours my man ,
Take care you hear
Have a good day Hank
From: James
Cook
To: Doc
Rio
Sent: Sunday, February 21, 2010 11:49 AM
Subject: Who is Hank Togna
Hank Togna was in class "ALFA" in the
spring of 1947; I was in class "BRAVO" in the Fall
of that same year .After that they started to number the
classes 2,3,4, etc. No one knows who the first "FROGMAN
was; who gives a
shit! Jim
;
Hank Tonga
Jim Cook
Enrico “Hank”
Togna
Randolph
NJ
07869
Doc,
I wrote the
middle of the book first.Let
me explain.About 11 or12
years ago a woman named Pam Russell called me from
Colorado
she and her husband R.D. Russel (who was a SEAL) have this Naval
Archives that they are trying to keep U.D.T. history alive and how the
SEALs developed.Asking me
questions me giving her all the information I could remember writing
letters back an forth.
I would give her
names that I remembered in U.D.T. to help her gather information.She would ask me questions from the information from them, we
were going backwards instead of forward, so I said “look” I will
write you a long letter telling you how I got into U.D.T. and out.The letter became a short story.We exchanged about 50 letters each during this ordeal.I never met her.She
was very pleased about the story “My Navy Years.”
I can’t type as
you can see.I wrote the
story long hand and she typed it and sent me a copy.
Then I thought I
would like to tell her about my life before I went into the Navy.I asked her if she would type the story, she said she would be
glad too, and she was queries to know about me.
After we did
“Early Years” I said a story has to have an enging, so I wrote
“I finally made it tough all the way”Pam typed it all for me and we still write and E-Mail each
other.They are good
people.
I volunteered at a
Veterans hospital one day a week when I retired for about 15 years.About 10 years ago they had college kids working there during
the summer and they earned credits for school.One, of the project was “Veterans History project” they
wanted to use me I told them I did not have any war stories to tell,
even though I was a veteran, I joined before the deadline of being a
veteran was up.They made
this interview on this DVD “enclosed” and put together some
information for the Library of Congress in Washing D.C. it is about
90% per cent right there is a lot of mistakes, Remember they were kids
and volunteers.I never
did proof read it.I
didn’t know they were doing this until I got a letter about two
years later that they did this
I hope you find this interesting
Hank.
Friday, March 05,
2010 ----- Original
Message ----- From: Doc
Rio To:
Hank
Togna Sent:
Friday, March 05, 2010 8:35 PM Subject:
THank you very much for sending me your book and the DVD
I
am in awe that you want me to share your life.
I
Not only found your letter and the Veterans History Project
interesting, i find it extremely well done.
I
am reading between your lines that you are giving me permission to
post some of your book on my web site. Am I
correct? Thanking you in advance.
Here
is your letter to me for your records and rememerances:
Doc
Riojas
----- Original Message ----- From: Pam Russell To: Hank Togna ;
docrio ; jfcph442003 [at] yahoo.com Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 7:49 PM Subject:
Newest Togna's pictures are here on page 02 ,www.sealtwo.org
Ah, Hank,
that is so nice of you to write the note about me and how you and I started a friendship so many years ago. I can still remember how fun it was to read your life story and type it up for you, at the same time learning about the people who were most important in your life. It was a privilege and I enjoyed it. And I haven't forgotten how you send me all that money to thank me for typing for you. Although we've never met I feel I know your heart and it's a good one, solid gold.
Thanks again, Hank. You helped me learn about early UDT on the East Coast, about the very first class and who was in it. I'm forever grateful.
Fondly, Pam Russell
This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
Doc Rio, I found a new way to write a letter. Look on the
back of each picture. You can keep them. They are copys.
Enjoy, Hank
202
Reunion: Left with hat my wife Bette. We are looking at my photo and
memory book. I'm in the middle. Cook is on the right. The
other two frogs I can't remember their names. Cook and I , Togna,
served time in UDT together.
Lt
to Rt: Cook, Unknown Frog, Togna, Divine (UDT-2), Utter.
Utter and Togna were in the first class UDT in 1947
1949
Fisherman Island at North Chesapeake Bay. Front Dueau and back
Hank Togna (Me)
1949.
Di Martino at Fisherman Island North Chesapeake Bay. Di Martino,
Dureau, Togna, we were instructors for the trainees. We sleep on
the pier with nets over our bunk. The mosquitoes were terrible
after dark.
1947
New Foundland trip. Lt to Rt: Mac Allister, Togna, Frank
Scollise
Rudy
Boesch and Sam Bailey. I met Sam on my first day in Little Creek
to UDT for training in March of 1947.
Dewey, Tryon, Togna, Maynard, they were in the second class with Jim Cook.
I
stopped after I here after I got married to see Cook and Mac Allister,
Scollise came to my wedding. This was in 1952. You guys
got the cream off the milk, we got the sourmilk.
2002
Reunion. Cook in middle left with hat, Uter Middle right with
glasses, these guys are all UDT Frogmen 7/20/02
Big
John, Koeber, Sheldon, DiMartino and Sulinski, these guys were about
half of the instructors that put the first class of UDT trainees
through training "1947"
Little
Creek Reunion 1994. Left Togna and Jim Cook
From: James Cook
To: Doc Riojas
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2010
Subject: Every Day it Got Better, biography of
Enrico "Hank" Tonga
Doc Rio,
It is true what Hank Togna wrote in his book "Every
Day it Got Better."
Togna was not with me in my airplane, a team guy named
"Big John" Johnson was. The trainees
were on Fisherman's Island during demolition training and I
flew with Big John out over the
island. Big John Johnson threw the students some cans
of beer from my airplane.
Tu Amigo
Jim Cook
click on picture to enlarge One more man was missing "Cook" he was on
his honeymoon or at the Deep Sea Diving School along with Hunter and
the other five that were missings.
L
to R: John Luscher (SeaWolf, Jay Stansell, Martin Mapes, Larry Lyons, Ken
Abasolo, Roger Guerra
Eugenio "Panco" Cresini & Joseph "Red"
Coyle
SEAL TEam FOUR
L
to R: Jack Lynch, ? , Rudy Boesch, Jim Tipton
Thomas J. Valentine
died in Parachute Accident 2/2008
Doc; Dick Pearson I am sending these photos of Henry
Tindall RIP. I hope it is
a long time before you receive my obit.
Share with all teammates. R.P.
Rio's Note: Thank you very much Dick.
The West Coast Fifty's
(1950) Frogmen by Donald Belcher: mailto:
popeye5 [at] insightbb.com
Harry Tindall; taken on an APD somewhere off Japan in 1953, I believe. Photo by:
Lee Hughs.
From: susierauch [at] aol.com Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2008 To:
tfrank [at] cox.net Subject: Harry Tindal
Hi Frank,
I just found out that Harry Tindall Passed away on January 20, 2008. I do not have any other info. I am in Nevada with the Grandkids and can't figure out how to send out from my address book.
Will you please forward this on the guys. I would appreciate it.
Thanks,
Susie
Terry,
I think it takes a Bosun Mate, not an ET, to master the art of coffee brewing. Why just look what a grand job Dad Warren did running the coffee mess the final six-months he was in the Navy!
Hoo Yah!
John
Terry Fowler wrote: I learned a lot from Harry, but was unable to man the coffee mess. When I was due to get out in 1968, it was traditional to spend the last week taking care of the coffee mess. Now I didn't and still don't drink coffee so I tried to follow Harry's instructions closely knowing that coffee was a very big deal to most of the Team.
I brewed up my first batch on my own and Harry came by to inspect. He took a sip, tasted it carefully, and told me "You know you can't make it too strong. If a man wants it a little weaker, he can always add hot water."
I said "Aye Aye Chief", and the next morning added a couple extra measures to the coffee pot. Harry came by to inspect, sipped the coffee, and got a very sour look on his face. After a bit he said, "Fowler, don't bother with the coffee from now on." And my internship at the coffee locker came to an end.
Terry Fowler
-----Original Message----- From: Franklin Anderson Sent: Friday, February 15, 2008
To: Frank Toms; Subject: Re: Another Icon done gone
Harry broke in many young frogs when they first came into the team; They learned what the Frogs were all about. Harry was the TEAM ELEVEN Master at Arms for many years and kept the team running like a well oiled machine. You could set your watch on when he would arrive in the morning and make sure the coffee was brewing. He reserved the weekends for washing his car and mowing his lawn--He was a perfectionist and passed these traits on to the men. He was one of the best examples of a "TRUE FROG" that you could find. Back in 1957 Harry was one of Two BM-s to make Chief in the entire USN. GOD BLESS HIM -
Franklin -----
Original Message ----- From: Frank Toms To: Al C. Sent: Friday, February 15,
2008 Subject: Another Icon done gone
RIP Harry……………the first Master Chief I ever saw. He was all about being a good Frog, PT, running, sunning, volley ball and gardening. He started many young Frogs on landscaping careers. It looks like he and Doc Williams passed on the same day. A sad day for all Frogs and
SEALs.
Frank
Elvira
& Andy ANdrews
Billy
Burank and Billy
Isaac
George“Ike” Rodriguez
TM2(SEAL) ST-4 KIA Panama
Damien Rio Vasquez, Godson of Doc Riojas
Doc Riojas,
Thank you. Although I did know Pepper Tagle just by virtue of being
around he team areas; we never really worked or spent any time together.
However, if I may remember Isaac “Ike” Rodriguez to you all at
Teams PML, it would be my honor and privilege. I inherited Ike as a
TM2 (I think he was a PO2 at the time) when I was assigned to the Weapons
Department at SDV Team TWO in November of 1987. He was one of my
Techs for the Eight Boat and command small arms. He and Tony
Gilles another of my TMs were both hell bent on becoming SEALs. They
were both good kids and I helped move their requests up through the C-o-C
for approval.
Some of the background on Ike: I goes back to one day with the WEAPS
Gang back in the shop shooting the breeze as I’m sure you all can
relate. I don’t recall the exact sequence of our discussion but
there were two overriding points to it: (1) we discussed MOH recipients
and (2) Ike’s intense motivation for wanting to become a SEAL; he being
basically a land lubber from Eagle Pass, TX. However the discussion
went, the discussion came around to the last MOH awarded for the Viet Nam
by President Reagan back in 1981. I had remembered the occasion
because of the circumstances surrounding it; an SF Sergeant who had gone
into a hot LZ to pull out an encircled Recon Team single-handed and that
because of all the wounds he’d suffered all the Detachment had thought
he’d died. They’d managed a to get him a Distinguished Service
Cross before he was sent to Saigon and out. Ike informed me that
that Sergeant, subsequently a Master Sergeant, Roy Benavidez was a
relative ( second or third cousin) and that the story of Roy Benavidez was
the source of his motivation. I couldn’t argue against such a role
model and I knew Ike’s work ethic.
Webmaster's
NOTE: THe book: "Medal of Honor, A Vietnam Warrior's Story" by
M. Sgt. Roy P. Benavidez, USA, SF (Ret) and John R. Craig
I left SDVT-2 in Jan 1989 and Ike and Tony finally got their orders to
BUD/S and graduated. I don’t recall how long they had been at ST-4
before Operation Just Cause and the Paitilla Airfield op on Dec. 18, 1989;
I just know that we lost Ike and three others that day; LT. John P.
Conners, ENC Donald L. McFaul, and BM1 Chris Tilghman. Don
McFaul I’d know from my ST-1 tour 83 – 85.
I can only hope that these few short sentences remembered Ike well. May
they all be remembered well by their Teammates, families, loved ones and
friends.
Dave Tezza
BUD/S 106
GulfCoast
SEALs: lt to rt: Dave Casale,Curt Gibby, Doc Riojas, Dan Potts and ? I
forot his name he is BSU operator.
Twenty years is a long time. It spans
the entire life of many a young Sailor and Marine. Twenty
years is four Presidents ago. Twenty years ago, the Berlin
Wall had just come down, and the impact of that event was yet to
be known to East or West Germany, to the United States, or to the
Soviet Union. Heady times, and a hopeful if uncertain
future.
Twenty years ago today, just five weeks after
the momentous events in Europe, US forces were in action in
Panama. Operation JUST CAUSE led to the capture of Manuel
Noriega, in a short, sometimes sharp fight that was far less
costly than predicted estimates. Twenty three American
servicemen were killed, as were about two hundred Panamanian
soldiers.
I wasn’t there. A First Lieutenant
assigned to MCRD Parris Island, I was overseeing recruits being
made into Marines. But I remember JUST CAUSE very vividly.
That day, I was the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion Officer of the
Day (OOD), and upon completing my squad bay checks at 0200 I
flipped on the TV in the duty room. The 24-hour news cycle
was in its infancy, but there was coverage on every channel of US
forces engaged in a number of firefights, with a byline of “Fort
Sherman, Panama”. It took a while to sort out the
details, well into the next day. The news dominated
discussion in the Bn CP the next morning, with some fairly amusing
comments from the old man about this being what happens when you
choose the wrong dictator. Casualties were reported as very
light, thankfully.
That evening, as I ironed my uniform for the
next day, the phone rang. The voice of my friend on the
other end of the line said, “Don’t know if you heard, but Connors
was killed. He was killed in action some time
yesterday, in Panama”. Wow. Jee-zus.
John was not the first friend of mine who had been killed in
service to his country. Nor was he even the first to be
killed in action. A high school friend had died in the
Marine barracks in Beirut.
But John was the first of my friends to die
who’d seemed, I don’t know, bulletproof, invincible.
John was a piece of work. He was sharp, motivated, and
dedicated. Funny as hell, too. And he was very, very
smart. He had graduated from WPI, for chrissakes. He
was one of the toughest guys I have ever known. In the time
since I’d last spoken to him, he had completed SEAL training,
and had been assigned to his team. In order to make the
mission in Panama, he dragged himself out of a hospital bed, where
he had been battling an intestinal parasite. How the hell
does a guy like THAT get killed?
He shouldn’t have been on that mission,
could have stayed in his hospital bed and continued his recovery.
But anyone who knew John was not surprised that he would find a
way to be with his men when they needed him most. They would
also not be surprised to know that John was a top-shelf leader in
a community of top-shelf leaders.
But LTJG John Patrick Connors was not
bullet-proof. He and three members of his team died coming
to the aid of comrades who were pinned down. (Chief McFaul,
TM2 Rodriguez, and BM1 Tilghman were the other SEALs who had
been killed.) They had followed their leader into harm’s
way.
John Connors was not the first friend to die
for his country. He certainly wouldn’t be the last.
Indeed, the list is far longer than I care to remember these days.
But when I hear the notes of Taps playing, and I think of all of
those brave souls who gave their tomorrows so that we could have
our todays, it is John’s face I see first. LTJG John
Connors was 25.
Maybe twenty years isn’t such a long time
after all. You are missed, my friend.
I had the pleasure of knowing John Connors
when I was a midshipman in the NROTC program at Holy Cross in
Worcester, MA. This is to say that I knew of him and the kind of
example that he set and also how those around him held him in
such high regard. John was only a couple of years ahead of me in
seniority but light years ahead of me and everyone else in just
about every other way.
My first recollection of John was when he
stuck his head in the office of the NROTC Unit’s Executive
Officer. It was the summer before my senior year in high school
and my father had brought me in for an informational interview.
Commander Paul Bennett, a decorated riverboat driver of the
Vietnam War, excused himself and spoke with John briefly before
turning his attention back to my father and myself. More than
two decades later, I still recall the respect and admiration in
his voice when he said that it was John’s intention to become
a SEAL and that he would go far.
My last recollection of John was
approximately two years later just before his graduation. I was
at a liquor store (it was college) with two of his closer
friends. He bumped into us just as we were realizing that we did
not have enough money for a keg which seemed so incredibly
important at the time. Without knowing how much we needed, he
reached into his wallet and said that he would cover the rest.
Coughing up a five spot, he told us to have a great time and to
forget about paying him back. And that was it.
A couple of years later, I was home on
Christmas leave at a college friend’s house in Belmont, MA
reading an article about an area SEAL who had died fighting in
Panama. John’s grim official photo stared back at me and I
knew that he was gone. I cut out that small article and placed
it in a frame; carrying it with me in every stateroom,
apartment, and home that I have lived in since.
I now live in Hebron, CT where I am a
member of the VFW and the American Legion. Ironically, this past
week (12/23/09) I was speaking with a new member who is an
active duty SEAL and I asked if he had ever heard of John. He
mentioned that his name was on a plaque somewhere.
I have carried his framed article with his
official photo and some brass saluting a flag draped coffin that
I like to think is his for a long time now. I only realize now
that it has been for twenty years. I am going to send it back
down to Virginia when my SEAL acquaintance returns in February
with a $5 bill sealed to the reverse side. I am requesting that
it be placed somewhere special to SEALs. John would not like
this kind of attention and he most certainly deserves better but
it is the best that a passing acquaintance can do. While I do
not claim to have known John well or even reasonably well, I do
know that God does not create many men like John. I thank God
for having known him a little.
I knew John when he was a student at WPI. I
met through one of his roommates who was a friend of my family.
An incredibly smart and funny guy, John
kept himself in great physical shape and did very well in a very
tough school.
One cold winter’s day there was a big
snowstorm, with very deep drifts. John jumped off a second-story
balcony into a large drift. All we could hear was him laughing
from inside the snow drift.
I was in California when my friend called
to tell me that John had been killed in Panama.
About ten years ago our town created a
memorial out of bricks that had people’s names carved into
them. I bought one for LtJG John Patrick Connors, and every time
I pass though the town square I stop to look at it, and consider
that there was NOTHING “Junior Grade” about John.
Like Mark Stanovich, I too recall the
events in 1989.
I came home to my home in Aiea over looking Pearl Harbor after a
long mid-watch on Ford Island at Commander, Undersea
Surveillance Pacific. Flipped on the TV, and they were showing
Andrews Air Force Base, with the remains of a fallen SEAL being
brought home. Some how, I heard the name John Connor and I
immediately brought all my attention to the TV screen. I was in
denial and I rushed to the telephone and called Kara Jacobson,
Holy Cross ROTC 1987 grad, who was just up the hill in Pearl
City living with Jim Hensler, HC ‘87. I told her to turn the
TV on–every thing surreal.
When we were all stashed as Ensigns after graduation in May 1987
at the unit, we spent a lot of time with John, watching the NBA
championships in the apartment that Kara and I were renting.
John was working out and getting himself ready for BUDs, so, the
times we went scorpion bowling at a local watering hole, he was
the Duty Driver. I now have a photo of him and I on my desk
which was taken at one of the Navy Birthday balls when we were
midshipmen.
After John’s death, every time I have been promoted to date, I
have remembered him at my promotion ceremonies, mentioning the
fact that he gave his life for his country, hence not being
afforded the same opportunities to be promoted as the rest of
the HC ROTC Class of 1987.
John was a friend of mine who I met through
his brother Joe who I played rugby with. I gave my son, born in
1990, the middle name John Patrick in honor of John. Every year
on Memorial Day I take my son to the cemetery in Arlington, MA
and visit John’s grave with my son and say a prayer and shed a
tear. God Bless the Connors family and God Bless America!
Dicki
Cyrus, ??,
Leonard
Mc Carthy and Riojas 1990
McCarthy & Riojas 2007
Bill
Hamilton
Jerry Hammerle
John Muckle
James
adn Dave Morrison
Ollie Oliver
Dr.s Riojas and Aquardo
Carl Swepston and BietHai in 'nam
Tucker
and Bob Shouse
.
;
UDT East Coast http://www.sealtwo.org/ click
on image to enlarge it. &nb
see Sam
Bailey?
Millionaire: Jesse Hardy Class 29
Jake Rhinebolt, Phippsburg MA 2004
??, Jim watson, ??,
Richard Marcinko
Jump Pay was $55.00 a month.
Email From : Richard "Demo Dick" Marcinko
To : Doc Riojas
While scrolling thru the pics so far here's names
I found missing. You may not have added them due to space or too tired at the
time...(senior citizen disease)..haha
Page #2 Jerry hammerle ( rite above
Ollie).
IBS drop..I think he was one of the riggers;
Jeerry "??? I think, Jim Fox & I were the first to do the
IBS drop out of the UDTY/21 then UDT 22 riggers loft.
Under PR training class pic..Gov Janus..aka
Jessse Ventura
Next to MOH Kerry , Chuck LeMoyne
/s/ Richard
Doc Rio's NOTE:
Thank you CDR Marcinko aka:
"Demo Dick" then aka: Rogue Warrior.
click on photo for some of his books. Dick Marcinko and harry
Humphries
ROGUE WARRIOR: "Deplaning for his first
combat assignment, he writes, he inhaled deeply and "knew instantly that I
was going to like Vietnam a whole lot." He revels in "the wonderful
lethal odor of cordite wafting over me" and tells us that after one
particularly hairy action, "I dreamt of warm women and cold beer."
Irve
C. Le Moyne
.
BietHai,
Scottie Lyons, Pete "Pirate" Carolan
sitting, Instructors Doc Riojas Thanh standing and LDNN class in Camh Ranh Bay 'Nam
; This is the class that Kiet Nuygen started but had to go see his wife who
was having their first child. He came back to graduate from the next
class.
Doc
Riojas,
C.O.
Trung Ta Trinh Hoa Hiep, died of Cancer in L.A. CA.
Tran Van Qua was an instructor of LDNN. He is still lives in Saigon.
Le Van Manh is Unkown where is he.
Le Van Tuong was an instructor in Cam Ranh bay his task is same Qua.
Tuong is living in San Diego, CA.
Trung Uy Vu Trong Son is living in Santa Anna, CA. But he is
isolated to our LDNN.
Thats all my information. Hope this will help you.
Kiet Nguyen LDNN
Larry
Bailey, ??, A. Dee Clark
Melvin
Spence Dry , Philip "Moki" Martin, John Chamberlain
.
Dick
Marcinko
T.N. Tarbox, CO ST-2
left:
Jack Schultz
Len Conti, Class 27 Little Creek email
10 Oct 2009
Doc,
Somewhere in your voluminous photo album there is a shot of the UDT
Training cadre dated Puerto Rico, 1966.
Tyree, Blais, Newell, Hammond and others are listed. Also is one
person shown as LT ? (unknown person).
For your info, this is LT Woodaman, Class 27 EC, and USNA graduate.
Don't remember his first name.
Also, noticed several photos of John Francis Rabbitt. Could not
find his bio. Where is he now? Is he still with us?
He was in my platoon
(1st platoon UDT 21) for a Med Cruise and a Carribean cruise.
First
class aviation tech then. Glad to see he made Chief.
PS:
here it is, i found it: http://elticitl.tripod.com/johnnyfrbt.html
If you would have gone to my page SEALSWINLOSE the ARCHIEVES you would
have run across that link.
Lt.
to Rt: standing: Tyree, Sullivan, Tom Blais, Chuck Newell, LT
Woodaman,
Doc Painter. Sitting: Art Hammond, Jim Cook, Herb
Clements, Gene Fraley
Rio
We have a ass hole in our DAV post getting
Compensation for PTSD-- he was a seaman aboard a ship in the far east
and a Russian plane was seen flying within eyesight of his ship. He says
he still has bad dreams because of the incident.
They are considering
giving the Purple Heart for PTSD which will open up another can of
worms, it will take funds from other areas where they are really needed-
and will degrade the Purple Heart to a so what status
If everyone were
honest and above board in their actions and thoughts that would be one
thing but too many people lie through their ass attempting to gain
compensation for something that never happened which makes it even
more difficult for men with real injuries to obtain what is justly due
them.
Guys with real PTSD get compensation and help anyway Mostly Army
guys Why do some think they should have the Purple Heart?
Back when UDT training was what it was and Tom
Blais
and Chuck Newell were training instructors. Every man
they trained could claim PTS after training but never would ever
do it.
I am telling you for real if TB or CN ever looked into your face
and saw fear caused by the training you would wish you were
dead because they would Give you some personal
instruction. If you got through that the PTSD would have never
mattered and you would never ever get it because you had already
had it and never wanted any of it again.
The thing about
their personal instruction is that those who got it behind them and
stuck it out could always be relied on to never quit or be
effected by tough times-- When Blais would get pissed and his face
turned red and his eyes dilated and his teeth clenched then he would
smile. You knew you were in for something you never dreamed of happening
to your little self.
There was one guy in my class the got crossed up with
TB someway and when he realized it he ran away, went over the hill,
hauled ass. and we never saw him again--and at the time I couldn't blame
him-- we all knew he was going to be dead meat and if he came through
it he would always be demented.
We had a another guy in my class who had four years
service and was a seaman (E3 if you don't remember). this guy had been
stationed on Naval Air bases and had always worked in the gym and weight
room, when he went aboard a carrier he took care of the
weight room and ran around the flight deck. To look at him you would
think he was Charles Atlas.
This guy got crossed up with CN and for a
couple of day survived but one day Newell walked up to him and told him
he was going to run him to death--This guy was no push over either and
the next run we were on he knew what was coming up and faked a pass out,
We had just had some class on physiology and the word medulla oblongota
(medulla)was mentioned, anyway when they brought him around he told them
his medulla oblongota was swollen up and he couldn't breathe.
Blais and
Newell and Wadell went high order then made some of the guys drag
him out into the surf and then made the whole class run over him--They
said if anyone that didn't get a Boon Doctor on his ass they would
wish they had, and they meant it too!
We never saw this guy again.
The Ambulance came and hauled him away then they ran us down the beach
and up down ever sand dune until there were guys strung out for miles--
then the Jeep got between the pack and the stragglers and that night the
stragglers were kept up squat jumping until muster the next morning.
Once you got in deep like that it made every day harder and harder until
there was nothing left, you could only hope for a week end so you could
recover well enough to make it through the next week. Just sharing
memories---
Fred Miller
Webmaster's
NOTE: He is one of my best friends. Fred was WIA in
'nam. He was shot through the femur of one of his legs and damn near
lost it. He was medically discharged. He rehabilitated himself
while a civilian, and although he had one leg shorter than the other one
attempted to rejoin the Navy and was declined. The U.S.Army accepted
him and he retired as a Major. He was the foremost knowlegable
weapons officer in the USA and is now a Gunsmith in Iowa.
Stew
Smith is a graduate of the U.S.
Naval Academy, former Navy SEAL
Naval Academy, a former Navy SEAL,
and author of several fitness and self
defense books such asThe
Complete
Guide to Navy SEAL Fitness, and Maximum Fitness. As a military fitness
trainer, Stew has trained hundreds of
students for Navy SEAL, SpecialForces,
Air Force PJ, Ranger Training,and other
physical law enforcement
"Roy Boehm (1st SEAL) Said That"
To Doc Rio,
I will not comment on the amount of incoming each of
the people you have mentioned have seen. I would not recognize delayed
Stress Syndrome; if I fell over it, so far from what I have observed
if you cry and need mommy's comfort and protection, can't find a job,
can't hold a job, suck on drugs, and dive under the couch when a car
backfires your lazy ass was lying on while holding a can of kickapoo
joy juice as a pacifier.
This is a good indicator that you have not been in
combat and have stolen Valor, and defaced a true Man-O-Warsman. As a
veterans employment representative for the State of Florida I found
the best cure for their ailment to be the exposure of their DD 240.
assisted by cutting off their unemployment compensation.
Just a little known fact about my post service life.
It was the Pompano Florida office for about ten years.
Lt
to rt: ??, ??, Hook Turre, PT Schwartz, ??, Pete Peterson, Chuck Jessie, Jack
Rowell, Erasmo Riojas, Don Tocci, Mike Boynton from the movie "Men with
Green Faces"
Jerry Sweesy
lt to rt: Adm.?, ??, HM1 ???
ST-2 7th Plt 1970 DaNang RVN: Front sitting: Tom Hawkins,
Ed. McQueen, Bill Day. STANDING: John Jaunzems, Ty Zellers, Jim Finley,
LDNN ??, Joe Silva, Mike SPenser, Bob Rieve, Fred Keener, Doc
O'Brien BACK: BSU warrior ???
A.Dee Clark
Louis
Boissvert
Philip "Moki"
Martin front left sitting.
Kiet Nguyen and Wife ??
Tom
R. Norris , Nguyen Van Kiet
Bob "Scham"
Schambuger
Harry
"Ozzie" Grant, Frank Fauth Bob
Richardson
Quan
& Journalist CamRanh
Bay LDNN training Camp
.
Darryl
Young
Joe SMith works with the Houston TX Police Dept.
Darryl
Young SEAL Team ONE
Subject: Re: Erasmo "Doc Rio" Riojas SEAL Web
Page has changed
Date:
Sat, 07 Feb 1998 16:36:55 -0700
From:
seal1@marsweb.com (Darryl Young)
Organization:
M@RSWeb/ISM
To:el.ticitl@worldnet.att.net
References:1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 SEAL 1Home of "The Element of Surprise"&"SEALs, UDT,
Frogmen"
Warning!!!The
NSWA (Naval Special Warfare Archives) has determined
that viewing these pages for wannabe's is hazardous
to their health! This is not a
web page for fake, phony UDT/SEAL Wannabe's! If
you're a Wannabe get out
now & go to www. http://members.tripod.com/~fakeseal/Your name & photo
could very well end up here!!!
Doc... Appreciate the help... Do you want my user
name & password... I'll call if u need them???
Thanks... the DD
Doc Rio wrote:
KA KA!,
no way in two years!
send me what you want on it. I'll get it going for you.by the way I wroteMarsweb to let me get into their help pages so i can see how
they upload their graphics.Lets
get it goin.
Doc... Great chattin with you this AM... Here are 3
more plates... Dont
know
if u want the Trident plate on the web or not... Frog plate belongsto Harlem Funkhouser & NvySEAL
plate belongs to Lance Green...If u get a chance check out
www.mirc.comDownload for free... RD & I are on
a "Dalnet" server on channel #awv
(American
War Vets)... I will help you get setup once u get online...
Doc, Thanks for helpin me get started on the web
page... I'm a real dummy
when it comes to some of this shit... Once I get "hands on"experiance I'll
do fine!!! Let me know what u need... the DD
Erasmo "Doc Rio" Riojas wrote:
Thanks Mr. Young,
Please let me know what you have in mind for
web coverage on wannabe's, i don't believe i can beat RD Russell
and Kent Dillingham.They
got things well covered there. you see http://www.frii.com/~rdruss/hey,
is that you holding the stoner and the M-60 the picture is in may
article titled:THE HAS
BEANS. thanks,my
man, i am 66 years old, couldn't fight myself out of a wet paper
bag.I got a terrible back
(too many night full equiment jumps?). I want to go watch you guys kick some ass though.You gonna be
in
Ft. Pierce, I would be very pleased to meet you and get you to
sign my book.
Doc!!! Thanks for the email... Yes that is me
holding the Stoner & M-60 on RD's web... I'm also on Brian Curl's
web at www.navysealteams.com... I would like to come to the muster but
do not fly!!! Maybe I'll just drive... Long ways from Montana
...
Thanks Doc!!!
Darryl Young
Doc... Yes... That is my picture... I have the negative
& the original... There's not much I sweat out anymore & when
I become 66 I may fly too...LOL... But I have a little ways to go
before then!!! My door is always open to you!!!
Erasmo
Riojas & Clarence A. Presley in Korea Police Action
.
sol
Atkinson, Jesse Ventura
Gary Smith, SEAL, Author of 2 books
John
F. Rabbitt
LT.
Conner
J.F. Rabbitt ST-2
By all accounts, Scott Helvenston (SEAL), who joined Blackwater in March 2004, was well
prepared for security work. He had been a Navy SEAL instructor and was a world
class athlete. But he was in debt and Blackwater's pay -- about $600 a day --
was a chief reason for signing on for a two-month contract. He told a friend he
expected to be guarding Paul Bremer, head of the Coalition Provisional
Authority. But he never met Bremer. Blackwater had a new contract with a
catering company, ESS, and they were scrambling to find new guards.
A
final e-mail -- Written on the eve of his departure for the mission,
it's addressed to Blackwater officials. He complains about last-minute
changes in pulling the team together and some problems with a team member.
But he declares his resolve to stick with the mission.
A Blackwater colleague pays
tribute -- In a letter written to Helvenston's family after his death,
she writes about the kind of man he was and his attitude toward his job in
Iraq.
Read
Helvenston's full story -- "Scotty Bod Grows Up" -- as
reported in the Raleigh News & Observer's special series on the
Fallujah killings, "The Bridge." (Note: Free registration required
for this series.)
Salem Post office, friends remember
Ron Quear
WHAT: Ron
Quear Memorial Breakfast
WHERE: Washingtonville VFW Post 5532, 575 Leetonia Road, Washingtonville
WHEN: From 8 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Feb. 3
WHY: Proceeds will help family toward medical costs for late cancer
victim Ron Quear
SALEM — If you stood in line at the
Salem Post Office, you probably saw or were waited on by Ron
Quear.
He was the tall and big fellow with dark, neatly cropped hair, a
mustache and wearing glasses.
He would send an acknowledging smile out in front of a relaxed “I can
take you over here” greeting.
Not that others didn’t have it, just that his helpful demeanor came
across stronger and that pretty much said it as far as customers were
concerned.
Longtime co-worker Gene Smith said, “Everyone will remember Ron most
for his outgoing, friendly service.”
Few people knew that this 57-year-old gentleman, who died on Jan. 17,
had been fighting cancer for 10 years.
Even fewer knew that he was a 20-year U.S. Navy veteran, served two
tours of duty in Vietnam, was awarded the Purple Heart and was also a
member of the U.S. Navy SEALs.
SEALs is the acronym for the Sea, Air and Land (SEAL) forces — the
elite Special Operations Forces (or Special forces) of the navy.
They are deployed in unconventional warfare, guerrilla warfare, foreign
internal defense, direct action, counter-terrorism, and special
reconnaissance operations.
Ron was a New Castle, Pa. native, graduate of Mohawk High School and
loved the outdoors.
His obituary said he was “a true outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and
fishing.”
He began working for the postal service five years after retiring from
the navy in 1989 and was assigned to the Salem Branch while residing in
North Jackson.
Ron was father, grandfather, brother and husband who waged a long,
costly battle with cancer.
Donnie Raimon
Feffrey A. Lucas
Joseph C. Schwedler
Matthew J. Bourgeois
Ryan Zinke
Ted Alexander
Capt.Bill
Hamilton
RADM R. Harward
RADM Robert Harward
Perfecto
"Ray"
Ramos
Harry Constance, Rinney,
Robert "Eagle" Gallagher
TC
Cummings - Master Coach TC Cummings, former U.S. Navy Seal Commando,
honors the standards and philosophies embraced by Jim Rohn. TC has an
exceptional history of overcoming adversities. His story begins in New York,
where at age 16, he assumed sole responsibility of his own financial support.
Through 8 years as an Operator and Corpsman in the elite U.S. Navy commando SEAL
Teams, he traveled the world learning communication and teamwork on the cutting
edge. His 6 plus years of working with individuals and corporations in
professional coaching and speaking infuses his presentations with energy and
insight. To learn more about TC Cummings, email speaker@yoursuccessstore.com
or call 877-929-0439.
Dick Couch, a 1967 graduate of the
U.S. Naval Academy and former platoon commander of SEAL Team One, conducted one
of the only successful POW rescues of the Vietnam War. He later served as a
maritime operations officer with the CIA. Now living on Bainbridge Island in
Puget Sound, Couch is a captain in the Naval Reserve and recently retired from
his duties as senior serving reserve SEAL officer. This is his fourth novel.
Jeffrey
Allen Lucas. Electronics Technician First Class, U.S. Navy (SEAL).
Born 17th September,1971, killed in action June 28,2005 in
Afghanistan. While on a mission to rescue 4 Navy SEALS who were
surrounded and under intense enemy fire, members of the Army Special
Forces, SEAL Delivery Team One, and SEAL Team 10's task was to
remove the trapped SEALS from danger. An enemy RPG struck the rescue
helicopter killing all 16 on board. Three SEALs on the ground died
and one SEAL, was wounded and was rescued. To Jeff, this mission was
a success, although it cost him his life, it saved the life of a
brother SEAL. Ever since the 4th Grade Jeff believed he would become
a SEAL, because they were the best. To his credit and memory he
achieved this goal graduating from Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL
class 191 in January 1994. The news of Jeff;s death struck hard in
the small communities of Corbett and Aims, Oregon where he went to
school and lived until graduation from High School. I knew him since
he was a child, growing up to be a marksman by shooting mice with a
BB gun. Practicing RECON by sneeking into Trout Creek Bible Camp,
and making away with some campers candy. Dedication, determination,
a sense of humor, that we all enjoyed and miss. He loved Golf, but I
was told he was the worst golfer there ever was, but that was his
game. With 10 years as a Navy SEAL, Jeff left this world to be with
the Almighty, who needed a good man, husband, father, son and
grandson.
--Anonymous , Mosier, OR (submitted on May 14, 2007)
;
click on picture to enlarge
Posted by UltimaRatioReg in Navy,
Uncategorized,
history
Dr.s Riojas and Aquardo
Carl Swepston and BietHai in 'nam
Tucker
and Bob Shouse 
Jump Pay was $55.00 a month.
A.Dee Clark
Rio in Hollywood, CA.
By all accounts, Scott Helvenston (SEAL), who joined Blackwater in March 2004, was well
prepared for security work. He had been a Navy SEAL instructor and was a world
class athlete. But he was in debt and Blackwater's pay -- about $600 a day --
was a chief reason for signing on for a two-month contract. He told a friend he
expected to be guarding Paul Bremer, head of the Coalition Provisional
Authority. But he never met Bremer. Blackwater had a new contract with a
catering company, ESS, and they were scrambling to find new guards.
Mike
Lumpkin
TC
Cummings - Master Coach TC Cummings, former U.S. Navy Seal Commando,
honors the standards and philosophies embraced by Jim Rohn. TC has an
exceptional history of overcoming adversities. His story begins in New York,
where at age 16, he assumed sole responsibility of his own financial support.
Through 8 years as an Operator and Corpsman in the elite U.S. Navy commando SEAL
Teams, he traveled the world learning communication and teamwork on the cutting
edge. His 6 plus years of working with individuals and corporations in
professional coaching and speaking infuses his presentations with energy and
insight. 
Dick Couch, a 1967 graduate of the
U.S. Naval Academy and former platoon commander of SEAL Team One, conducted one
of the only successful POW rescues of the Vietnam War. He later served as a
maritime operations officer with the CIA. Now living on Bainbridge Island in
Puget Sound, Couch is a captain in the Naval Reserve and recently retired from
his duties as senior serving reserve SEAL officer. This is his fourth novel.
Gone but not forgotten…
December 19th, 2009 at 6:33 pmI had the pleasure of knowing John Connors when I was a midshipman in the NROTC program at Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. This is to say that I knew of him and the kind of example that he set and also how those around him held him in such high regard. John was only a couple of years ahead of me in seniority but light years ahead of me and everyone else in just about every other way.
My first recollection of John was when he stuck his head in the office of the NROTC Unit’s Executive Officer. It was the summer before my senior year in high school and my father had brought me in for an informational interview. Commander Paul Bennett, a decorated riverboat driver of the Vietnam War, excused himself and spoke with John briefly before turning his attention back to my father and myself. More than two decades later, I still recall the respect and admiration in his voice when he said that it was John’s intention to become a SEAL and that he would go far.
My last recollection of John was approximately two years later just before his graduation. I was at a liquor store (it was college) with two of his closer friends. He bumped into us just as we were realizing that we did not have enough money for a keg which seemed so incredibly important at the time. Without knowing how much we needed, he reached into his wallet and said that he would cover the rest. Coughing up a five spot, he told us to have a great time and to forget about paying him back. And that was it.
A couple of years later, I was home on Christmas leave at a college friend’s house in Belmont, MA reading an article about an area SEAL who had died fighting in Panama. John’s grim official photo stared back at me and I knew that he was gone. I cut out that small article and placed it in a frame; carrying it with me in every stateroom, apartment, and home that I have lived in since.
I now live in Hebron, CT where I am a member of the VFW and the American Legion. Ironically, this past week (12/23/09) I was speaking with a new member who is an active duty SEAL and I asked if he had ever heard of John. He mentioned that his name was on a plaque somewhere.
I have carried his framed article with his official photo and some brass saluting a flag draped coffin that I like to think is his for a long time now. I only realize now that it has been for twenty years. I am going to send it back down to Virginia when my SEAL acquaintance returns in February with a $5 bill sealed to the reverse side. I am requesting that it be placed somewhere special to SEALs. John would not like this kind of attention and he most certainly deserves better but it is the best that a passing acquaintance can do. While I do not claim to have known John well or even reasonably well, I do know that God does not create many men like John. I thank God for having known him a little.
December 28th, 2009 at 1:03 pmI knew John when he was a student at WPI. I met through one of his roommates who was a friend of my family.
An incredibly smart and funny guy, John kept himself in great physical shape and did very well in a very tough school.
One cold winter’s day there was a big snowstorm, with very deep drifts. John jumped off a second-story balcony into a large drift. All we could hear was him laughing from inside the snow drift.
I was in California when my friend called to tell me that John had been killed in Panama.
About ten years ago our town created a memorial out of bricks that had people’s names carved into them. I bought one for LtJG John Patrick Connors, and every time I pass though the town square I stop to look at it, and consider that there was NOTHING “Junior Grade” about John.
May 29th, 2010 at 10:04 amLike Mark Stanovich, I too recall the events in 1989.
May 30th, 2010 at 8:05 amI came home to my home in Aiea over looking Pearl Harbor after a long mid-watch on Ford Island at Commander, Undersea Surveillance Pacific. Flipped on the TV, and they were showing Andrews Air Force Base, with the remains of a fallen SEAL being brought home. Some how, I heard the name John Connor and I immediately brought all my attention to the TV screen. I was in denial and I rushed to the telephone and called Kara Jacobson, Holy Cross ROTC 1987 grad, who was just up the hill in Pearl City living with Jim Hensler, HC ‘87. I told her to turn the TV on–every thing surreal.
When we were all stashed as Ensigns after graduation in May 1987 at the unit, we spent a lot of time with John, watching the NBA championships in the apartment that Kara and I were renting. John was working out and getting himself ready for BUDs, so, the times we went scorpion bowling at a local watering hole, he was the Duty Driver. I now have a photo of him and I on my desk which was taken at one of the Navy Birthday balls when we were midshipmen.
After John’s death, every time I have been promoted to date, I have remembered him at my promotion ceremonies, mentioning the fact that he gave his life for his country, hence not being afforded the same opportunities to be promoted as the rest of the HC ROTC Class of 1987.
John was a friend of mine who I met through his brother Joe who I played rugby with. I gave my son, born in 1990, the middle name John Patrick in honor of John. Every year on Memorial Day I take my son to the cemetery in Arlington, MA and visit John’s grave with my son and say a prayer and shed a tear. God Bless the Connors family and God Bless America!
May 30th, 2010 at 5:52 pm