Fifties Frogs vol 17 no 4

Vol. 17 No. 4 October, 2011

FIFTIES FROG MAGAZINE

Publication Policy: Fifties Frogs Magazine is, beginning in 2010, available only in electronic format. Users are encouraged to make hard copies for easier reading and permanency. This online version is free. Libraries and other institutions are welcome to download the issues as they are published. Add our website url to your favorites.

Frequency of publication may vary from time to time but the magazine will be published at least annually. The goal is 4 issues per year.

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Send responses and material to the editor at:
doncmarler@gmail.com
or
Don C. Marler
112 Chris Lane
Pineville, La. 71360
Cell 409 594 8221

EDITORIAL

Don C. Marler

The Fifty’s Frogs just completed their annual muster and by any standard it was a resounding success. Franklin Anderson, his wife Marti and daughters, Gisela and Susan, worked hard to make everything just right. The Anderson Ranch is lovely, nestled in the low mountains of southern Colorado. The Ute Indian Casino and hotel was perfect for our group of 45 -- 50 Frogs, spouses and friends. We had more opportunities for participating in local activities than we could accommodate; yet, we spent hours with each other. It was a great opportunity to learn about each other, Ute culture and more.

We had four first time attendees:

1. William F. Atkinson and Pricilla
2. Al Winter and Sandy
3. A. D. “Darnell “ Mitchell and Donna and other family members
4. Francis Graham and Trish

The interaction between us is beginning to take a subtle shift from tales of exploits of yesteryear to concern about the well being of fellow members of the group. The bonding between Frogs is stronger than ever. What is more outstanding is the bonding between the spouses, companions and friends of the Frogs. The relationship between former officers and enlisted men is relaxed and devoid of status consciousness. Many of us make this meeting our vacation, look forward to it and enjoy every minute of it.

The next meeting will be at Branson, Missouri. Invite any Frogs you know to attend.

This editorial is made short to give room for Pam Russell’s letter to her sister. It is a wonderful description of the muster, events and scenery of this southern part of Colorado. Her letter follows immediately, don’t miss it.
Also see the muster related photos.

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PAM’S LETTER TO FRAN

Pam Russell

[Following the reunion in Colorado Pam Russell, who is the expert helping me get the Fifties Frog Magazine to you four times per year, wrote her sister, Fran, describing the reunion and the environment in which it was held. I know you will agree that it creates a wonderful picture of the reunion and its setting.]

Hi Fran,
I've just returned from a Fifties Frogs reunion in Ignacio, Colorado. It's an annual event hosted by a different member each year and held in cities across the country, mostly near a casino. You may remember I went to my first Fifties Frogs reunion in 2009 in Kentucky - really fun. This year Franklin and Marti Anderson volunteered to host the gathering at the Ute Casino in Ignacio, about fifteen minutes drive from their ranch in Allison. There was a big turnout this year, possibly the biggest yet with around fifty people in attendance. Of those I believe about twenty were Fifties Frogs - men who served in the Navy's Underwater Demolition Teams in the 1950s, and the rest were spouses, adult children, and interested parties - that's the category I fit in.

The Underwater Demolition Teams, UDT, came into existence in 1943 as a response to the need for beach reconnaissance for Marine landing craft. After WWII there were a few years when they had to prove to the Navy there was still a need for them, and then came the Korean War when once again the underwater skills of UDT were essential. It was during the fifties that UDT expanded their field of operation to include the beaches and nearby land targets such as bridges and canals. President John Kennedy, himself a Navy man, sent out the orders in 1961 to modify or create a unit capable of operating in water, air, and land, and that is why the SEAL Teams came to be. They were originally staffed from the ranks of UDT and for the next twenty years both UDT and SEALs trained together and often shared personnel. In 1983 all UDTs were decommissioned and the men absorbed into the SEAL Teams. I'm sure that "absorbed" is not the right military term but "transferred" doesn't seem quite right either. What I want you to know is that the UDT men were not sent home or out to the fleet, they became SEALs. During the forty years that UDT existed, 1943-1983, there were only

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about 7,000 men who were ever UDT. Of them, fewer than 2,000 were UDT in the 1950s. I wouldn't want to guess at how many of those Fifties Frogs are still alive but there aren't very many. You can see that this Fifties Frogs group is an elite club that gets smaller each year. They are a proud bunch of men who share a unique military experience.

Back to my story about the reunion. We all stayed at the Ute Casino where the motel accommodations and restaurant facilities are great. Right inside the lobby is the casino with its flashing lights and mesmerized gamblers but it doesn't dominate the place. There are also gift shops, a spa, exercise room, and a couple of restaurants on the main floor. It's tastefully decorated with Native American rugs, wall hangings, and old photographs. I really enjoyed it. We had a hospitality room set up in a suite on the fourth floor which the Anderson's daughter, Gisela, and her college friend Maelynn maintained for us. It was continually stocked with great snacks and just about anything a person could want to drink. We gathered there informally throughout the five days of the reunion and it served as "home base."

Franklin and Marti planned a fine reunion for their Frog friends and families. A few couples arrived a day early and were invited out to the ranch for lunch. Then Thursday we all met at a community building a couple of miles from the ranch where they fed us all a home cooked supper of smoked lamb, beef brisket, baked ham, and all kinds of salad that Marti made with vegetables from their garden. She also baked all the desserts which included several pies and a big pineapple cake. Marti is known in her community as "the pie lady" and now I know why. There was a casserole too, dinner rolls, and all sorts of drinks. It was delicious and much appreciated by all who attended. With all the Frog friends in attendance Susan Anderson, Franklin and Marti's younger daughter, announced that her parents will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in November, and she presented them with a triple-chocolate bundt cake with a golden 50th placard pushed into the top of it. We gave them a round of applause and congratulated them on their fifty years together. I later found out that one of the Frogs, Pete Willits, was in their wedding back in California in 1961.

Friday was a non-scheduled day and most of us left the casino to explore the countryside. Two couples, Bob and Diane Berry along with Harry and Joann Barelka, spent the day riding the famous Durango and Silverton narrow gauge railroad train.

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I think theirs was the most ambitious outing that day. Others explored the nearby mountains, shopped in Durango, and a few attended a music program complete with chili supper. Marti, Sharon Boynton, and I shopped at Good Ol' Days Antiques in nearby Bayfield - what a fun place! We each found something we just couldn't live without. Many of us had never been to this part of Colorado and were smitten with its charm. The Southern Ute Reservation is huge and covers the entire area around Ignacio so most of the time we were on Indian land. I got up early on Friday and drove the country roads taking photographs and comparing what I saw with the scenes I've read in James D. Doss's books about Charlie Moon, the Native American rancher who drives Hwy. 151 into Ignacio and eats at the local diner. Bob and I both love those books and joke about meeting up with Charlie and his Aunt Daisy on the Reservation. The land is covered with shrubs and small trees, now showing their autumn colors, such a variety of yellow, orange, red and brown. Wildlife is abundant and there are many "watch for" signs, some with deer, some with elk, and I even saw one for bighorn sheep. On Highway 160 between Bayfield and Durango there is an area where motion sensors are placed in the foliage on both sides of the road. If wildlife is detected a flashing orange light comes on to warn drivers of the eminent danger. I'd never seen that before and I like it.

Saturday morning I drove to Bayfield where the townspeople were celebrating Heritage Days. We watched three sheepherders (are they called shepherds?) and a dog bring a large flock of sheep right through town, down one of the main streets. People lined the sidewalks to watch this traditional sheep trailing which kicks off their annual celebration. At one point a few small children played in the center of the street which caused the sheep to stop, mill around, and then skirt the kids by going up the sides of the banks on each side of the street. One bystander told me that the herd was small this year compared to some she's seen. I think some of our group spent Saturday morning and early afternoon touring the Ute Cultural Center which is next door to the casino. It's a brand new building with striking architecture and state-of-the-art exhibits of Ute history and heritage. There is a teepee inside made of tanned buffalo robes and when you enter it you hear the recorded voices of Ute elders telling traditional stories. My favorite was a story used to teach children the consequences of not listening to their parents. It was about a rabbit who ran away from home and was eaten by a coyote who tricked the rabbit into believing he was trustworthy. We weren't allowed to take photos in that room of the museum but I did take some of the main building and the library. Only two exhibit halls were open but the map shows several that will

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be open to the public later on.

Saturday afternoon at five, dressed in our nicer clothes, we all met for photographs just outside the casino on a patio where the lighting was good. Then we went back in and gathered in a private banquet room for dinner. The food was very good and the service just right. During dessert Marti Anderson presented each Frog with a colorful, man-sized coffee mug made by a local potter, and for the ladies, a soap dish by the same potter or cookbook produced by a local club. Then Lee Hughs took the microphone and started the auction. Lee is not only a Fifties Frog but he is also a professional auctioneer and donates his time and skills each year to auction the items the attendees bring to him. The proceeds from the auction fund the reunion for the following year so it's important that he loosens up the crowd and gets them to bidding. He's great at that, using humor and patience to auction off all sorts of things like homemade jewelry, hand-knitted shawls, art prints, jelly, and bags of pinto beans. When the auction was over Don Marler asked for volunteers to host next year's reunion. Instead he heard someone say, "Let's have it in Wyoming again." That's where the 2010 reunion was held, hosted by Lee and Priscilla Hughs. Lee graciously agreed to host another reunion but suggested perhaps a better place would be close to a big airport and at a lower altitude. Don Marler told us that Lloyd and Norma Crosby have said that any time no one volunteers to host the reunion they will host it in Branson, Missouri. A show of hands was called for and Branson was chosen as the site for the 2012 Fifties Frogs Reunion.

We closed out the evening by gathering in the hospitality room once more before heading home on Sunday. Several of us left for home early Sunday morning but I understand that fifteen people gathered at the Andersons ranch for lunch on Sunday where a good time was had by all. Marti made two more cherry pies for her guests while Susan picked corn from Franklin's garden. This was a terrific reunion and I'm so glad I attended. Lots of people took photographs and the plan is to post them on the Fifties Frogs website for all to enjoy. I'm attaching a few I took to your email. 1) a photo taken at the Thursday night supper 2) the sheep going through town 3) inside hallway in the Ute Cultural Center 4) the Fifties Frogs gathered for a photograph.

Love,
pam

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ALBERT WINTER, CDR
Franklin Anderson

[Note: Franklin wrote this story several years ago for Al’s birthday. Al attended the reunion for the first time. We hope he returns again and again.]

So you wanted to be a FROGMAN, it sounded exciting and challenging. You made it through the initial screening process for Underwater Demolition Team Training (UDTRA). Now you’re about to find out what it’s all about, Your adrenaline is pumping and your heart pounding a mile a minute, the excitement and the unknown are building up as the instructors parade around you shouting orders. They are: LCDR DAN CHANDLER, LT MIKE PARKER, LTJG HANK COGHILL, LTJG AL PRICE, ENS. HARVEY HIBER, BMC STANLEY ANTRIM, HMC BOTZER, SM1 PAUL MCNALLY, QM1 DICK BRERETON, GM1 LEE BARBER, BM2 H.O. CUNNINGHAM, PO2 FRED (TIZZ) MORRISON, RD1 BUD JURIC, PO1 KEN SPECHT and HM1 EMERSON.

It’s your first day of UDTRA and the instructors are a rough looking bunch parading around in their blue shirts and brown swim trunks. Their muscles stand out and they are shouting orders so fast that you can hardly hear or respond to them. The main commands are hit “HIT THE DECK, ON YOUR BACK, ON YOUR BELLY, ON YOUR FEET”. They are running around in circles yelling HOOYAH, Halt, 50 jumping jacks, come on weenies stretch those arms out, hit the deck and give me 25 pushups, on your feet. This goes on for about 45 minutes and it’s only the first day. Then they say GENTLEMEN we are going on a sightseeing tour; DOUBLE TIME HO – across highway (75), to the strand at YELLOW ONE BEACH MARKER--then a mile down the beach towards Hotel Del Coronado, to the North Island Fence. Stragglers are getting chewed out and finally you take FIVE. You are panting, your feet are wet as they are running you in and out of the ocean, having you drop down to insure that you are totally immersed. OK -- you have rested enough, the stragglers have finally caught up, no time for them to rest. Away we go, you learn quickly that it pays to be up front, as they circle you around to pick up stragglers. As you near YELLOW ONE again you think its about over, but no it is on down the beach, over sand dunes to the State Park Fence about 5 miles away, for another 5 minute break. Now

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it’s back to YELLOW ONE, fall into formation and double time to chow -- you are told that everyplace you go will be on the run.

At 1300 you assemble and are directed to double time to the swimming pool so we can check out your capabilities in the water. There are all sorts of fun and games to test your mental attitude. You are given lifejackets that will go everyplace with you -- they are Kapok and eventually become water logged, making it all the more burdensome. In the pool you interlock your legs around the waist of the man in front of you and paddle around the pool in the position. The calisthenics are a ritual every morning and the running and swimming are a daily affair. By the time the weekend arrives you are so stiff and sore that you can hardly get into a car. This is only the first week.

The training increases daily with longer runs and swims, also Log PT is conducted in the surf, the sand on the log gets into your shirt and chaffs your neck and shifts down into your pants and shoes, your groin is raw and you use Doctor Scholls moleskin to protect your thighs. Your class of 140 is dwindling already. The cold water, IBS Drills and runs have been tearing at the very fabric of your body. You’re put into Boat Crews of 7. Fortunately your boat crew is some of the more motivated men in the class. As time goes on your boat crew wins all the competition. Then you start HELL WEEK, the hardest physical training of any in the U.S. Armed Forces. As it proceeds two excellent officers quit and most of their boat crew quits, because psychologically, they think ” if he can’t make it I can’t” or it’s an easy excuse. It really comes down to a mind game. During HELL WEEK your boat crew continues to excel and to build up points to be the winning crew. Al Winter and Ensign Anderson are the #1 paddlers; Ensign Creekmore is the coxswain, setting the pace for the rest of the crew. During Paddles you and the ensign talk about hunting, fishing and other likes and dislikes. When you get tired you switch sides. The rest of the crew can’t figure out why you two are so happy to be paddling and talking up a storm. Your crew is so strong that the instructors take out Frank Perry and give you a weaker member of the class. This happens more frequently, but doesn’t affect your crew; their motivation is carried on to the newer members. Finally, on the last night of HELL WEEK you are doing a Scavenger Hunt and going from checkpoint to checkpoint. Your first clue is “MOONFLEET”, that happens to be the movie at the base theatre with Steward Granger – The crews carry their boats everyplace with them.

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You are given a clue “don’t let the Zoomies get out” so off to the North Island fence, Then “no matter how hard you try you can’t beat me”! So it’s to the Coronado City Hall. Then “no matter how hard you try you can’t open me”—the Belgium Gate off of Yellow One. This goes well and your last clue is to paddle down the bay towards Tijuana -- the State Park and into the ocean and back to the strand. Your boat crew is way ahead; Chief Antrim and Ensign Hiber and Petty Officer Brereton hold you up at the check point saying you have to wait until the last boat comes through as you were too far ahead. Finally, The last boat checks in--your crew is chomping at the bit to get underway -- they say go and we take off. They call us back and say, “you're going the wrong way. Since your crew accrued more points than any other crew – GO SECURE, and those are happy words to our ears.

Training continues and we get weekends off-- what do we do on weekend? We go diving at Sunset Cliffs—pictures show you with abalone.

As training progresses everything becomes more challenging, your conditioning improves so does the extent of training. Into the long runs, calisthenics, swims, paddling, more classes are gradually introduced such as distance judging, semaphore flag, Morse Code, flashing lights, introduction to radios. The physical activity is sandwiched in between classes so that no time is wasted. The only time you actually get to rest is in the classroom and at chow- you gobble down your food so that you can slip in a few snoozes until muster.

Finally we board an LST to go to San Clemente Island for the final two weeks of training. We conduct all problems that we could be expected to do during wartime or for fleet operations and exercises. We are one week at San Clemente, living in tents and having to prepare our own food, most of it coming from the ocean like lobsters, abalone and fish. One evening most of the instructors got on the LCPR and headed for Santa Catalina Island . The class decided that if the instructors are taking a break we should also. The class (with the exception of PO Thrift and LTJG Dimeff) takes an LCPR and head to Wilson Cove to buy some foodstuff for a picnic. As we are about ready to depart here come Chief Antrim and Mr. Dimeff in a motorized IBS, and over the hill comes Ensign Hiber and Petty Officer Brereton. They run us back to the beach at Pyramid Cove and we do calisthenics all day without food or water. Finally, securing and going back to the LST, after doing exercises that would have killed a normal person. When LCDR Chandler returns he is furious and declares that the entire class will be dropped, or

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have to go back through training. He had the officers in the wardroom and they had to write out a statement about the incident, and would they go through another class. To the best of my knowledge only Wade Creekmore and Franklin Anderson stated they would go through the next class. As LCDR Chandler goes to leave the wardroom, he grabs his hat of the hook, and rips it, as he was furious. He orders the LST Skipper to weigh anchor and proceed to Coronado.

When the class returns to the strand they’re restricted to the base until further notice. LCDR Chandler reports to the Deputy Commander NAVPHIBSCOL (Capt Allen) and states his case, saying they “TOOK AN LCPR WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION”. Captain Allen (who happened to be the uncle of trainee Ensign Raymond Knowles fiancée,) asked LCDR CHANDLER, where were you when all this was going on--like he didn’t know. LCDR Chandler was honest and said Santa Catalina.

--Captain Allen said “did your orders include that in your trip, he then said go think about it and let me know your decision about the class. LCDR Chandler consented to reinstate the class and continue training. Since we only had a short period of time left it was decided to give CLASS 18 SCUBA Training--The first class to receive SCUBA Training during the UDTRA phases; another first for all of our classmates. Upon graduation, there were only 25 men left in the class that started with over 140 men. Three of the officers, Al Hoefer, Paul Mobious and Wade Creekmore went to UDT-21, Ltjg. Friesema, Ens. Taylor, Ens. Bechtol and Ens. Anderson went to Team 11. Ens. Daines, Ens. Carse, Ens. Knowles, Ens. Milnor went to Team 12. All the enlisted men went to UDT-12 and most had a very successful tour in UDT. Al Winter got out of the Navy, went back to college and was in AFROTC as a backseat Fighter Pilot.

Vietnam was raising its ugly head and the SEALS (LCDR ANDERSON) were searching high and low for personnel. Al contacted BUPERS inquiring about coming back into UDT. After an extended time BUPERS contacted LT Flynn the UDT detailer. LT FLYNN contacted LCDR ANDERSON, who was the Commanding Officer of SEAL Team ONE and asked if he would like to get Al Winter into SEAL Team. LCDR ANDERSON’S reply was “not only yes, but Hell Yes”, after much work; Al came into the Navy and SEAL Team ONE and performed admirably. Later he was Commanding Officer of UDT 12; and still later in charge of Nuclear Weapons Training and inspections at North Island and various other facilities throughout the Eleventh Naval District. Al Winter retired as a FULL COMMANDER IN THE NAVY - with a VERY colorful career.

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CROSSING THE BAR

We have had a rapid increase in deaths among our comrades in the last few months.

JR Schooley passed away on September 21, 2011. For an account of his life read his story at: JRSchooley

Reported by Dan Potts.

Jack Gantly died of ALS September 4, 2011. No more details available.

Reported by Dan Potts.

Gary Chamberlin passed away around October 1, 2011. He lived at Vagas. No more details available.

Reported by Dan Potts and Lee Hughs

George Atcheson passed away on August 30, 2011 at his home in Santa Monica, Ca. He was born in China of U.S. Diplomat parents and they were still there when the Japanese invaded. He wrote a book on that experience entitled The Peking Incident. He was in Team 3. Phil Carrico has written that George was the OIC of the Big Ten Squad who pulled the first UDT raid in Korea. He trained Koreans for infiltration into the north and made raids with Team 1. He also worked for the CIA. His wife is Claire and can be reached at 360 Mesa Rd. Santa Monica, Ca. 90402.

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George had already purchased his airline ticket to come to the Fifties Frog Muster in Ignacio, Co. He planned to room with Phil Carrico and Carrico’s son Randy. Sadly he did not live to make that trip. Phil Carrico who was on that first mission with George provided the above information.

Phil Carrico [left] and son Randy visited George in 2009.

Another old frog that attended the muster was William F. Atkinson. He was also in the Big Ten raid and the similarity of the names and their service in the same squad has caused much confusion. Carrico thinks he and Atkinson are the only two left from the Big Ten Squad.

Reported by Phil Carrico.

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Thomas Marquis passed away on September 14, 2011. Tommy graduated with BUD/S Class 121 in FEB 1983. He was assigned to UDT-11, then transitioned as a Plank-Owner to ST-5. He served on the Navy Leap Frog parachute team from 1992-1993 (while TAD from ST-5). Tommy remained on board ST-5 until he transferred to COMNAVSPECWARCOM in 2000, where he served as a Motivator for In-Fleet and Initial Accession candidates screening and preparing for NSW training pipelines. Tommy retired in the spring of 2006 and developed the Navy Recruiting Command's National NSW/NSO Mentorship program. He was primarily responsible for the significant increase in quality and quantity of personnel shipped to Recruit Training Center for SEAL, SWCC, EOD, Navy Diver and Air Rescue programs. He led the 27-man NSW/NSO Mentor team in the development and refinement of processes, SOPs and best practices across the nation that significantly exceeded NSW/NSO program requirements for initial accession. Tommy is survived by his wife, Nancy, and daughter Avery. (Info provided by the UDT-SEAL Association.)

Reported by Dan Potts.

Dr. Christopher Lambertsen died about a year ago and he was not a FROG/SEAL, but greatly influenced the developments that lead to the success of Navy diving and FROG/SEAL combat operations. A memorial service was held for him on October 10, 2011. His achievements have been reported in the blast.

Reported by John Roberts.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Does anyone have a photo of Robert L. Withrow you could share?

If you have information on this request please send it to the editor at doncmarler@gmail.com

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The above submitted by Don Belcher.

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REFERENCES

International_Legends_Of_Diving

* This site contains an article on Doug Fane, and has some good 50s Frog info in it. After opening the above site, click Legends in the top bar and you will find the article on Red Dog.

From Chet Bright

* See the large collage of photos from the Ignacio, Colorado Frog Muster assembled by Pam Russell. Thanks to all who sent her photos.
http://www.navyfrogmen.com/FiftiesFrogs2011.html

NOTICES

* The next muster will be at Branson Missouri—Lloyd and Norma Crosby hosts. No date is set yet.

* Don Marler, editor, has moved to: 112 Chris Lane, Pineville, La. 71360. Email is doncmarler@gmail.com and cell is 409 594 8221.

* See more photos of the reunion at: http://www.navyfrogmen.com/FiftiesFrogs2011.html

Top row- Lee Hughs, Gene Poole; Harold Dunnigan; Bud Shigley; Al Winter; Ron Ethridge; Gerry Meyers; Lloyd Crosby; Pete Willits; Slim Lueb; Bob Berry; Bill Taylor; Mack Boynton; Don Marler; Franklin Anderson

Bottom row: Darnell Mitchell; Francis Graham; William F. Atkinson; Phil Carrico; Harry Barelka - missing were Don Belcher and Rudy Davis

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HISTORY OF COMMANDER UNDERWATER DEMOLITION TEAMS AND UNDERWATER FLOTILLA, AMPHIBOUS FORCES, PACIFIC FLEET

[Continued from Vol. 17 No. 3 as part of the history submitted as Vignettes of WWII, UDT, by Mack Boynton. The editor apologizes for getting some articles out of logical order.]

In the MARIAS operation, Underwater Demolition Team's proved their effectiveness in beach clearance and their ability to operate in daylight with adequate fire support. With conclusive proof of UDTs practicability and value, the need for a centralized UDT" command interested only in UDT activities became immediately apparent. The training program was expanded to provide for more than 30 operational teams of 100 men each, necessitating a higher echelon of operational command. The standardization of tactical procedures, for exploitation of new equipment and training methods, for developing means of coordinating the information gained by UDTs and disseminating it to the assault forces - for all these reasons, it was decided after the MARINAS operation to form an Underwater Demolition Staff under an overall Underwater Demolition Commander.

Accordingly, late in November 1944, the new command was set up as a Group Command under the Amphibious Forces, U,S. Pacific Fleet. Captain B. HALL Hanlon, USN was named the first Commander of Underwater Demolition Teams. The mission of ComUDT was three-fold: first, he took responsibility for certain administrative functions. Through the Administrative Command of PhibsPac, he was to oversee the training of the teams to ensure that experimental projects were carried through and that new devices and equipment were made quickly available and to coordinate the activities of the UDT Training Bases at Ft. Pierce, Florida and at NCDT&E Base, Maui , T.H. Further, the choice of teams' and responsibility for their preparedness for a particular operation were given to ComUDTs and his staff as well as arrangements for the teams’ rest and rehabilitation after an operation. ComUDTs second function was planning. Responsibility for writing training orders and operation plans, for briefing and rehearsing the teams, and for carrying on liaison with the Fire Support ships and the Assault Forces was allotted to the staff. Finally, ComUDTs was given tactical functions. During an actual UDT operation, ComUDTs was to have immediate control of all participating UDTs, APDs, and close fire support ships (LCI(G)s and DDs).

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The Staff was made up of 14 officers and men, about half with demolition experience, and was divided into Operations, Demolition, Communications, Intelligence, and Administrative departments. The Staff embarked at PEARL HARBOR on its flagship, the U.S.S. GILMER ( APD -ll) on 28 December 1944 . The GILMER, was a converted four stacker and the staff office space and living quarters, compressed into the upper and lower forward troop quarters, were considerably cramped. ComUDTs required his own flagship since he had been given tactical control at the objective, and since the staff proposed to operate almost continuously in the forward areas under both the THIRD and FIFTH Fleets, whichever was conducting an operation.

Not all the Staff immediately embarked on the GILMER, however, ComUDTs and two members of his Staff left Pearl Harbor on 25 December 1944 to observe the LINGAYEN operation and to coordinate the activities of the UDTs committed. The flagship remained at PEARL. ComUDTs flew to the forward area and witnessed the operation from the flagship of the Comdr. of the Support Force, During this operation , on ComUDTs directive, Army liaison personnel from high echelons of the assault units were, for the time, assigned to operating UDTs as observers, and rough UDT charts showing the results of their reconnaissance were prepared. The charts were reproduced on gelatin “Ditto” pads and a limited distribution of them was made on D-Day to certain command ships of the assault forces.

Up until this time, UDT training and mission had been purely for demolition of obstacles, but it was perceived that UDTs could in the future perform very valuable work of a reconnaissance nature, even though no demolition of obstacles was necessary. The teams participating at LINGAYEN had had no training in the hydrographic reconnaissance, as distinct from demolition function and the information contained on their charts, although valuable, was not complete. Further, the distribution of the information was very limited and did not take place until D-Day just at the hour of the assault.

During the course of this operation, the ship on which ComUDTs and the two members of his staff were embarked, was hit by a suicide plane but no UDT Staff personnel were injured.

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Meanwhile, the rest of the Staff went aboard the GILMER at PEARL and immediately went to Maui to conduct rehearsals with the teams selected for the IWO JIMA operation. A training order was written and detailed rehearsals in reconnaissance and demolition functions were conducted over a period of three days. The reconnaissance and demolition functions were conceived of as wholly separate with the reconnaissance coming first. Base charts of all the practice beaches and their approaches were made up by the staff, drawn to a uniform scale, and distributed to each team for the plotting of information gained by the reconnaissance. After each UDT rehearsal, personnel from the teams came aboard the flagship where they were interviewed and the information gained was digested into dispatch form and was also placed on a master chart to be reproduced in quantity, on an Ozalid white print machine which was installed on the flagship. Speed in getting this information ready for distribution was emphasized. LCI (G)s simulated support fire during these rehearsals and a detailed schedule of maneuvers for the fire support ships was drawn up and put into effect. A lengthy list of reports to be made by voice radio by all participating units during actual operation was drawn up, and a flag plot procedure was established to coordinate these reports and thus keep ComUDTs constantly informed of the activities of all units under his control. Demolition activities of various teams were coordinated and planned in detail to avoid the danger inherent in un-concerted action.

These rehearsals were invaluable in training the staff and gave rise to many of the techniques that were to become standard. At the end of the three day period, the flagship returned to PEARL where it continued work of the UDT operation plan for IWO JIMA. Early in January, the flagship departed for ULITHI where the four teams selected for the IWO JIMA operation had already gathered on their APDs. ComUDTs was recalled from LINGAYEN to PEARL HARBOR to make an eyewitness report to Cincpac on Jap suicide plane technique, after which he flew to ULITHI to rejoin his staff.

At ULITHI, two further rehearsals were held, for which the staff prepared Training Orders. These rehearsals were conducted with the supporting LCIs and DDs which were to be used at IWO and the emphasis was on working out complete plans for the most effective use of fire support.

At ULITHI, ComUDT’ first operation for IWO was distributed. It contained a minutely worked out time schedule for all Units involved with all teams based on their relationship to "ROGER" hour, which was set as the time that the LCP(R)s carrying the swimmers crossed the DD line on their way to the

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beach. It contained detailed fire support areas, positions, and techniques, and provisions for distributing UDT information by means of dispatches, charts, and return of Army liaison personnel.

Enroute to the objective, at Saipan, the staff conducted a final rehearsal on compiling and distributing UDT information.

At IWO JIMA, four teams made a successful reconnaissance of the Eastern Beaches on the morning of D-2 and of the Western Beaches in the afternoon. No demolition was necessary. During the operation, all support and operating units were controlled by ComUDTs from the flagship. The LCI (G)s, on taking station at a prearranged time apparently gave the Japs the impression, from the regularity of their approach, that they constituted an assault wave, They encountered heavy fire and all received hits. However, their with drawl was accomplished and casualties were seedily transferred. This circumstance put a heavy load on the flagship voice circuits. As a result, team and swimmer reports were somewhat confused from lack of circuit discipline and some delay was encountered in withdrawing the teams because of lack of complete knowledge as to whether all swimmers had been recovered by their boats. This communication confusion was complicated by the fact that the current at IWO swept several swimmers southward so that they were recovered by different boats than they had started from.

Several hours after each reconnaissance, a dispatch summarizing the UDT information was sent from the Flagship for relay to Attack Forces approaching the target. On the night of D-2, two members of the Staff, with 4 Marine liaison personnel and 4 men from the teams were put aboard the single reserve APD and sent back to rendezvous with the Attack Forces.They were transferred at seato the Attack Force and TransRon flagships with copies of the dispatches and UDT charts.At dawn on the morning of D-Day, when the Attack Forces arrived in the area, further transfers of Staff personnel with charts were made to command ships. In accordance with ComUDts Op-Plan, each team furnished guides to start the first landing waves, while Staff personnel reported to the Force Beachmaster.

On the night of D-1, the U.S.S. Blessman (APD 48) with UDT 15 embarked was hit by a Jap bomb. The Gilmer, ComUDTs' flagship, went alongside and

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Staff personnel took an active part in putting out the fire on the Blessman and taking off casualties. On D plus 2, members of the Staff conducted a reconnaissance of the sand shoal off Purple Beach. This mission was accomplished with the Gilmer and two of her LCP (R)s. A quick withdrawal was necessary because of accurate mortar and machine gun fire but the mission was satisfactorily accomplished.

On D plus 2, D plus 3, and D plus4, members of the Staff supervised the work of teams personnel in aiding to clear the beaches which had become congested with broached landing craft. On d plus 4, ComUDTs turned over command of the teams at IWO to the senior Ud Team Commanding Officer, and reported to ComphibsGroup ONE with his Staff for planning purposes.

The flagship departed IWO for LEYTE and advanced planning for the OKINAWA operation was done enroute, On arrival at LEYTE, the UDT Operation Plan for OKINAWA was completed and distributed. It embodied all the proven techniques, the lessons learned from IWO, and several new ideas, The feasibility and importance of wide and early distribution of UDT informationhad been demonstrated at IWO. As a result it was planned to distribute information in four ways: by dispatches, by charts, by a report amplifying the information in the dispatches and charts, and by liaison personnel who would be returned to all Army assault units down to BLTS. The dispatches were to be on the completion of each reconnaissance or demolition operation; the charts, reports and personnel were to be put aboard reserve APDs on D-2 to rendezvous with Attack Forces on D-1. On D-1 at sea, the charts and reports with UDT personnel would be distributed to to all Navy TransRon, TransDiv, attack Force, Control and Tractor flagships and Army personnel would be returned to their respective battalions, regiments, divisions, and corps. The fire support ships, under this plan were to make their approach in a staggered, irregular formation so as not to present the appearance of a landing wave. Further refinements in the system of radio reports were made so as to ensure that swimmers would be accounted for at all times. More definite arrangements for supporting air strikes and smoke cover were made. A minesweeping annex was added to the plan to aid in integrating UDT operations with sweeping operation.

While at LEYTE , a training order was written and rehearsals were had with 6 teams who were to operate on the main landing beaches at OKINAWA. On

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12 March 1945 the Staff left LEYTE in the flagship and proceeded to ULITHI where 4 teams to be used in KERMA RETTO and on

Demonstration Beaches were staging. Further rehearsals were had with these teams and with fire support ships.

On D-8, these latter 4 teams and the flagship arrived in the objective area. On D-7, a member of the Staff accompanied each team in its reconnaissance of the beaches in KERMA RETTO to aid in the preparation of the dispatches, charts and reports. The dispatches were sent in the afternoon of D-& and the information contained therein was received in sufficient time by the Attack Forces to enable them to make necessary changes in their landing plan in accordance with UDT recommendations. Just at daylight on D-6, the day of the landing in KERMA RETTO, the flagship of ConUDTs was struck a glancing blow from a Jap suicide plane, but damage to the ship was light and there were no casualties among Staff personnel. Distribution of charts, reports and personnel from the flagship to various echelons of the Attack Force continued until H-Hour.

On D-5, the flagship with the other 6 UD Teams which had arrived in the area from LEYTE, proceeded to the main beaches of OKINAWA where they made a visual reconnaissance from the APDs. ON D-3, a very successful reconnaissance was made with the loss of but one man. More than 3500 obstacles in the form of wooden posts set in the reef edge were discovered during the reconnaissance, most of which were considered to constitute a barrier to LVTs. In four shots each carefully coordinated by ComUDts, these obstacles were blown out of the beach approaches without incident. The information gained by some of the swimmers was collected, reproduced and made ready for distribution on the flagship according to plan, and all Army-Marine liaison personnel (total 30) were returned to their parent unit on D-1 morning. Congratulations on an excellent job performed were received by ComUDTs in dispatches from Secretary of the Navy, and ComPhisPac.

On D plus 6, ComUDTs departed the area by plane to make a rapid tour of forward bases to investigate possible sites for UDT rehabilitation centers, and then go to the UDT Training bases for a comprehensive survey of the future training program. The Chief Staff Officer and two Staff members transferred to another APD to begin planning for the IE SHIMA and Eastern Islands operations, which were to follow almost immediately. Administration

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and the bulk of the Staff remained on the Gilmer which departed for PEARL HARBOR to start planning future operations. The staff members remaining in the OKAIINAWA area wrote and distributed a ComUDTs Op-Plan for IE SHIMA and briefed personnel of the two teams selected for that operation. Frequent conferences with the Fire Support Commander resulted in excellent fire cover and the reconnaissance operations, lasting two days were completed without causality. No demolition in the pre-assault phase was necessary although considerable blasting was done shortly after landing to clear an approach channel for LSts. Immediately after the landing on IE SHIMA, the staff representatives departed for PEARL HARBOR to rejoin the rest of the Staff and ComUDTs who returned to PEARL from the West Coast on May 3, 1945. On 7 May, most of the Staff moved over to MAUI to observe trainin, handle administrative work, and prepare for a conference on UDT work with representatives of BUOrd, Ft. Pierce, NCDT&E Base and AdComPhibsPac.

On 6 June 1945, ComUDtsPhibsPac was awarded the Navy Cross for the IWO JIMA operation and the Legion of Merit for the combined operations of IWO and OKINAWA by ComPhibspAc aboard the latter’s flagship at GUAM. In accordance with BUPers orders, Capt. Hanlon was then detached and his Chief Staff Officer Comdr. D.L. Kauffman, USNR became Acting ComUDTs.

June 17, 1945, Captain R.H. Rogers, USN, reported and assumed command as ComUDTs at PEARL HARBOR. Arrangements were made to 30 teams on 30 APDs to ATB Oceanside, California for a month’s cold water training to begin 15 August 1945.At this time, a new command organization for UDTs was authorized by ComPhibsPac. The Underwater Demolition Group was made a flotilla and two subordinate squadron commands were provided for. Captain ROGERS assumed the dual responsibility of Commander, Underwater Demolition Flotilla and Commander Underwater Demolition Teams. Under him were Underwater Demolition squadron ONE and TWO, each with a flagship and separate Staff. The U.S.S. HOLLIS APD (86) was selected as flagship for the UD Flotilla and the U.S.S.. BLESSMAN (APD -48) and the U.S.S. LANING (APD-%%) were designated squadron flagships.

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On 30 June 1945, ComUDTs departed PEARL for MANILA to report to ComPHIBSPAC. The rest of the Staff followed, and was embarked on the U.S.S. R. W. Herndon (APD-121), temporary flagship, in MANILA. ComUDTs Operation Plan 7-45 for the KYUSHU operation, was written and reproduction began. It was ComUDts’ intention to return with his Staff to Oceanside on 15 August to supervise the cold water training and the operation was to be distributed from there. With the Japanese peace off on 10 August twenty of the UDts in training on the West Coast were alerted, and with the Jap surrender on the 14th, they were ordered to proceed at once to the forward area. ComUDTs, still in MANILA, immediately wrote and distributed an Operational Plan (No. 8-45) which would serve as a general guide in the occupational tasks ahead. ComUDTs ordered his flagship forward from PEARL HARBOR and hoisted his broad command pennant at GUAM on 25 August 1945. The flagship proceeded at once to TOKYO BAY—the first ship routed directly from GUAM to TOKYO. Under the Operation Plan, for the occupation, the U.S. Flotilla had been divided into 3 groups of 6 teams each, one to serve under the direction of each of the THIRD, FIFTH and SEVAENTH PhibFor commanders. The Flotilla was under the overall command of ComUDTs for the direction of the Groups in performing any services within the limits of their training and equipment. The teams in each group performed several reconnaissances of landing points and encountered no enemy opposition. Further valuable assistance was given to the landing forces in harbor clearances and ship demilitarization work by the UDTs.

While at TOKYO, authority was delegated to ComUDTs by ComPhibsPac to effect the withdrawal of the UD Flotilla from the operation area back to the West Coast and to plan the re-organization of the UDTs on a peace-time basis. Conferences at TOKYO relative to the withdrawal of the THIRD UD GROUP were satisfactorily completed, and the flagship departed TOKYO to confer with SEVENTH PhibFor representatives at OKINAWA. While conferences were taking place at OKINAWA, an approaching typhoon necessitated the formation of all ships present into Retirement Groups which proceeded west to ride out the storm. ComUDTs in his flagship was designated ComEscorts for the Retirement Groups. Returning to Okinawa, further conferences were held, and on24 Sept. ComUDTs proceeded to WAKAYAMA, HONSHU for conferences with the Com5thPhibFor. The discussions as to the dates for team withdrawals were quickly concluded, West Coast via OKINAWA, GUAM, AND PEARL HARBOR, there to set up the peacetime UDT program with headquarters at ATB, Coronado.

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Newspaper Article in the Durango Herald courtesy of Franklin W. Anderson

When the Navy SEALs went into Pakistan in May and killed Osama bin Laden, they were representing a time-honored tradition of taking on some of the most dangerous tasks ever assigned to a military unit.

Their predecessors, indeed, even the founders of the SEALs – the special operations branch of the Navy, whose acronym stands for sea, air, land – visited La Plata County from Sept. 21 to 25 for their annual reunion, called the “50’s Frogs.” More than 50 “Old Frogs” and their wives attended the festivities.

Before they were SEALs, they were called frogmen as the diving arm of the Navy, hence the name of the reunion. Ignacio resident Franklin Anderson organized the event.

Anderson – make that Cmdr. Anderson – spent 21 years in the Navy and was the director of the Basic Underwater Demolition Team/SEALs Training Center in Coronado, Calif. By his retirement in 1977, Anderson had racked up more commissioned hours serving with UDTs and SEALs than anyone in the history of the Navy at that time.

But it’s not Anderson’s service he wants to talk about, or his efforts to establish the SEALs we know today. When he talks about the reunion, his favorite topic is the most senior attendee of the reunion, Mack Boynton, whom he considers one of the principal forefathers of the SEALs. Boynton traveled to the reunion from his home in Bend, Ore.

Boynton, 93, enlisted in the Navy in 1939 and became a master diver. After Pearl Harbor , the former enlisted man who rose to the rank of lieutenant commander developed a method to retrieve the ships’ screws from the wreckage at the bottom of the harbor, saving the Navy some much needed time and money to get ships repaired and back at sea again. He went on to provide invaluable skills in the Korean War working with underwater demolitions. It was Boynton telling the chief of naval operations (editor: COMMANDING GENERAL OF FMFPAC, not chief of naval operations), “It would be easier to teach a Navy man to shoot a weapon than to train a Marine to swim” that led to the directive to form SEAL Team One on Jan. 1, 1962 .

Anderson so admires Boynton, he wrote a book about him, which I am planning to peruse when I’m not on deadline.

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I also consulted Mr. Google about Boynton and found a photo on the Utah Association’s “The Latest Scuttlebutt ...” website of Boynton in his dress whites from 1939, still able to wear them 70 years later. He looked pretty sharp, too.

Other of the most senior attendees who served on the earliest UDTs – they served before 1951 – included Darnell Mitchell, 89, the first Navy-trained frogman in 1943, and Francis Graham, 81, who both traveled from Waco, Texas (editor: Darnell Mitchell is from Beaumont, TX, not Waco); Bill Taylor from Phoenix; Phil Carrico and William F. Atkinson, 86, both from San Antonio(editor: Phil Carrico is from Daisetta, TX, not San Antonio).

The other thing Anderson wants to talk about is what it takes to be a SEAL. Anything you’ve seen in the movies is a mere iceberg of the real thing. The training is 25 grueling weeks of physical, mental and emotional work.

It starts with a ton of physical conditioning, which gets more demanding every day. In fact, a frequently heard phrase is, “The only easy day was yesterday.”

In addition to everything about diving – seven full weeks of diving medicine, equipment, physics, physiology, scuba, compass swimming – they all learn signals, combat medicine, land navigation, senior lifesaving and drownproofing, also known as swimming with hands and feet bound. Yikes.

To graduate, which only about 34 percent do, SEAL trainees have to swim 5½ miles in the ocean. No one passes just to fill a quota.

And graduating is just the beginning. A SEAL’s life is constant training, so he is always prepared – perhaps to make that all-important incursion into Pakistan to take down the world’s most wanted terrorist.

Luckily, while they were in our area, the most dangerous thing the “50’s Frogs” encountered was downtown Bayfield during Heritage Days. Hey, those sheep can take you down if you’re not paying attention! They also enjoyed a lamb barbecue at the Spring Creek Grange Hall east of Ignacio, a wine tasting at Richard and Linda Parry’s Fox Fire Farms, a chili dinner and performance by the Bar D Wranglers, a trip on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and a visit to the Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum.

The group meets annually, with next year’s event scheduled for Branson, Mo. But they won’t soon forget their visit to Southwest Colorado, which they all loved.

I was sorry not to be able to join them to hear some stories, which Anderson said “get better every year,” but won’t miss a second opportunity to meet some true American heroes the next time Anderson hosts them.

I didn’t get to say this in person, but thank you all for your service to our country, gentlemen! (HHH for the Durango Herald)

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MORE PHOTOS OF SOUTHERN COLORADO

Photos furnished by Phil Carrico and his son Randy

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