Frogs Crossing the Bar

From Don Marler:

KEITH, RUEL WESLEY, SN, UDT 11, Class 006, 11/21/52

 

Wes lived at Navajo Dam, N.M. where he and his wife, Teddy, ran a bar, 

restaurant and store. He was a retired pipe-fitter. Wes is survived by 

his wife, Teddy, daughter, Kari, stepdaughter, Denise, and stepsons 

Denise and Joe.

 

In a July 10 ceremony his ashes will be spread on the Navajo River.

From Curt Gibby:

QMC William D. Sutherland, USN - (Ret.) Class 13

QMC Chief William D. Sutherland, UDT Class 13 passed away on March 31, 2010.

His shipmates affectionately knew Bill as " Fat Rat ". He was born and raised in Peoria, Illinois. After graduation from Manual Training High School he was offered a position with Walt Disney as a cartoonist. Bill declined the offer, and at age 19, joined the Navy. Upon completion of Boot Camp, he was ordered aboard an LSMR as a Quartermaster striker.

He applied for UDT Training in 1954 and commenced training in Class 13. Upon completion of training he was assigned to UDT-22 and worked in the Chart Shop. Bill was known for the UDT Character shown riding a shark as seen in many Cruise Charts. He was also one of the main designers of the Seal Trident, worn by SEALs today.

Chief Sutherland was one of the founding Fathers and early Presidents of the UDT-SEAL Association and was very involved in Association activities. 

Bill married his wife June in 1967 and together they had two girls and a boy. Bill also had three children from a previous marriage. The Sutherlands moved to New Port Richie, Florida where he and June took up golf, a game that he could never beat her at. Bill and June settled into a life of enjoyable retirement until his passing.

Chief Sutherland's ashes will be spread upon the waters at the Muster Memorial Service in Fort Pierce in November. Mrs. Sutherland will reside in Virginia Beach with her daughter beginning in June.           

 

From Dan Potts:

MMCM Devereaux “Bull” Chester Knox, USN (Ret) SEAL Team 19

MMCM Devereaux "Bull" Chester Knox, 72, passed away Thursday, May 20, 2010. Born in Guilford, Conn., he was a resident of Hampton Roads for more than 51 years. "Bull" retired as a Navy SEAL in 1988 after 30 years of service to our country. "Bull" was first assigned with UDT 21 and later served several tours of duty in Vietnam with SEAL Team 2.

Surviving are his children, Michael Francis Knox, Dev Christopher Knox and Dawn Maria (Knox) Gutierrez; six grandchildren; four great- grandchildren; very special friends, Jim and Jan Archibald. Dev is predeceased by his wife, Margaret Elaine Knox.

From Doc Rio:

John Douglas Schworm:

John Douglas Schworm, QM3, UDT 2, training class 1 at Little Creek - graduated 7/17/ 1947.

On January 26, 2010 John Douglas Schworm crossed over the bar. He was the beloved husband of Lois Schworm (nee Sherry); loving father of Sherryl Schworm Johnston of Catonsville, MD, Jane Schworm Beecher of Lochearn, MD and Susan Summers of Spring Grove, PA; devoted father-in-law of Andy Johnston, Thomas Beecher, Jr. and William Summers, Jr.; cherished brother of the late Edward Schworm; caring grandfather of William Summers, III, April Summers and Kyle Beecher.

Services were held Monday, February 1, 2010 at 10 AM. Interment Maryland Veterans Cemetery - Crownsville, Md.  

Robert Tucker

We reported the passing of Bob Tucker in the last issue of  Fifties Frogs and some of you communicated with his daughter Jenny. Phil Koehler called her and she was appreciative of the call. Her contact info is: 706 468 8851, jennysegal@aol.com, 1271 Forsyth St., Monticello, Ga. 31064, if anyone else wishes to make contact. Thanks Phil for this kind act.

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