Vol.
18 No.
FIFTIES FROG MAGAZINE
© 2012 Persons or
entities wishing to use material in Fifties Frogs Magazine are free to
do so provided full credit is given to the author and the 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.
Our
website: http://www.navyfrogmen.com/fiftiesfrogs/
Send
responses and material to the editor at:
doncmarler@gmail.com
or
Don C. Marler
112
Cell 409 594 8221
I have edited
several Journals/Magazines through the years and this one is by far the
easiest. The reason it is so easy is that I receive an abundance of material
from the readers. Sometime I have more than I can use and that is a good
problem to have. Keep those cards and letters coming as the old-time radio
preachers used to say.
At the end of the
old year and beginning of the new year I wanted to
thank you for your support. I will also spare you any further comments from me
and let your submissions speak to us all.
Don C. Marler
Photos courtesy Joe
“Skip” DeFloria. (Photos were taken by Angell
Williams and Matt Kieffer. The .pps presentation by Pierre Alliez.)
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John F. Raynolds,
Mitch
Croft passed away sometime in
November 2011.
Bob Scandiffio passed
away on
Donald (Herky) Hertenstein
passed away
George
Sutcliffe passed away peacefully on
James
Short, MD. Passed
away a couple of years ago. He was in west coast training class 6 and
assigned to Team
Calvin J. Zettle was in Class 6 and went to UDT 1 so I'm thinking
some of you probably knew him. That is why I'm forwarding this email from his
grandson to you. The grandson's name is Justin Zettle
and his email address is zettles@hotmail.com Please write to him if you would
like to, and forward his email to any other Fifties Frogs who may have known
Calvin Zettle. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Pam Russell
Evening my name is
Justin Zettle, I am e-mailing on behalf of my Grand
-father. He is in his late 80's and not that coherent at times, my parents
asked me to help cause I'm better at the Internet than
they are. My grandfather fought in WWII I to
My dad now has legal gauradian status over my grandfater so he can approve any request I just have to
tell him where to go. Every now and again we have an "old buddy" call
my father and tell stories. That's as far as we have ever got. Just wondering
were to turn to and what to do to get more answers? If you can help please let
me know? My grandfathers name is Calvin Zettle. Born in michagan
WWII to
Dennis McCormack of ST-1 is looking for
e-mails and home addresses for the following personnel.
Can you help him out?
Arlando Ledbetter
William Okesson
Frank Perry
Donald Raymond
His contact info is as follows:
Dennis McCormack
Plank Owner
ST-1 (1962-65)
DKMSEAL@aol.com
1-619-434-9976 (H)
1-619-887-0056 (C)
'Baywatch,' Sleeping
Beauty and SEAL pioneers
[Published by The Tampa May 17,
2011 . It is
online at TBO.com]
In the dramatic raid
that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden, the lines between intelligence
and special operations were blurred.
The
It was a race against the clock. The Allies lagged far behind the special
operations forces developed by the Axis powers. Donovan considered the Germans
the "big league professionals" of special operations warfare and
Americans "the bush league club." Donovan would fight fire with fire.
He explained to
While
The
Those who made it through a difficult assessment and training process were
formed into 15- to 30-man teams, much like the present-day Green Berets
A-teams. Known as Operational Groups (OGs), these
commandos would soon wreak havoc across
As Donovan stood up his OG commandos,
But predating all of these groups, the
But in late 1941, the Gamma Men were fully focused on defeating the Allies and
pulled off one of the most dramatic underwater demolitions of WWII. They sank
two battleships, the HMS Valiant and the Queen Elizabeth, in a daring raid on
Decima
Spurred on by the success of the Italians, the British and Americans both
developed operational swimmer programs. Approved in February 1943 by General
Donovan, the
In addition, the
After extensive training, the
Group I operated in
Perhaps the least known aspect of
Using high-speed Italian motorboats known as
The Italians distinguished themselves in their service to the
As the war drew to a close, the sources and methods learned from Decima
As
Patrick K. O'Donnell, an expert on Special Operations, has written three books
on the
Comment: from Mack Boynton
The above is a
very interesting article on
In the early 1950's the Italian movie entitled HELL RAIDERS OF THE DEEP was
available for check-out at the COM ELEVEN movie exchange. We showed it
while we were in the old "Quonset UDT area" and also in the new UDT
building. It was so well received that we showed it many times. It
had great underwater photography and covered in detail the Italian's success in
sinking the battleships. Everyone who saw it was astounded at how
far the Italians had advanced in underwater warfare. I don't know if
it is still available, but if you find it, I highly recommend it.
When the Teams received the first Pirelli Lungs and Dry Suits, in the late
1940's, Kelly Welch was CO UDT
Mack Boynton
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY
Anonymous
He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.
And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For old Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.
He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Someone who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?
The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.
It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?
Or would you want a Soldier--
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end?
He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence
should remind us
We may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."
[This is no doubt one of the best
descriptions of a good sailor bar that you have ever read.]
Our favorite
liberty bars were like no other watering holes or dens of iniquity inhabited by
seagoing men. They had to meet strict standards to be in compliance with the
acceptable requirement for a sailor beer-swilling dump. The first and foremost
requirement was a crusty old gal serving suds. She had to be able to wrestle
King Kong to parade rest. Be able to balance a tray with one hand, knock
sailors out of the way with the other hand and skillfully navigate through a
roomful of milling around drunks. On slow nights, she had to be the kind of gal
who would give you a back scratch or put her foot on the table so you could
admire her new ankle bracelet some "mook"
brought her back from a
"Buy a pack
of Clorets and chew up the whole thing before you get within heaving range of
any gal you ever want to see again." And, from the crusty old gal behind
the bar, "Hey animals, I know we have a crowd tonight, but if any of you
guys find the head facilities fully occupied and start pissing down the floor
drain, you're gonna find yourself scrubbing the deck
with your white hats!"
The barmaids had
to be able to admire great tattoos, look at pictures of ugly bucktooth kids and
smile. Be able to help haul drunks to cabs and comfort 19 year-olds who had
lost someone he thought loved him in a dark corner booth. They could look at
your ship's identification shoulder tab and tell you the names of the Skippers
back to the time you were a Cub Scout.
If you came in
after a late night maintenance problem and fell asleep with a half eaten
Slim-Jim in your hand, they tucked your peacoat
around you, put out the cigarette you left burning in the ashtray and replaced
the warm draft you left sitting on the table with a cold one when you woke up.
Why? Simply because they were one of the few people on the face of the earth
that knew what you did, and appreciated what you were doing.
And if you treated
them like a decent human being and didn't drive 'em
nuts by playing songs they hated on the juke box, they would lean over the back
of the booth and park their soft, warm tits on your neck when they sat two San
Miguel beers in front of you. And the Imported table wipe
down guy and glass washer, trash dumper, deck swabber
and paper towel replacer. The guy had to have baggy
tweed pants and a gold tooth and a grin like a 1950 Buick. And a name like "Ramon", "Juan",
"Pedro" or "Tico". He had to
smoke unfiltered Luckies, Camels or
The establishment
itself: The place had to have walls covered with ship and squadron plaques. The
walls were adorned with enlarged unit patches and the dates of previous
deployments. A dozen or more old, yellowed photographs
of fellows named "Buster", "Chicago", "P-Boat
Barney", "Flaming Hooker Harry", "Malone",
"Honshu Harry", "Jackson", "Douche Bag Doug", and
"Capt Slade Cutter" decorated any unused space. It had to have the
obligatory Michelob, Pabst Blue Ribbon and "Beer Nuts sold here" neon
signs. An eight-ball mystery beer tap handle and signs
reading. "Your mother does not work here, so clean away your frickin trash." "Keep your hands off the
barmaid." "Don't throw butts in urinal." "Barmaid's word is
final in settling bets." "Take your fights out in the alley behind
the bar!" "Owner reserves the right to waltz your worthless sorry ass
outside." "Shipmates are responsible for riding herd on their
ship/squadron drunks." This was typical signage found in any good liberty
bar.
You had to have a
juke box built along the lines of a
Only drunk Chiefs,
green Ensigns and starving Ethiopians ate pickled pig's feet and unless the
last three feet of your colon had been manufactured by Midas, you didn't want
to get anywhere near the Polish Napalm Dogs. No liberty bar was complete
without a couple of hundred faded ship or airplane pictures and a "Shut
the hell up!" sign taped on the mirror behind the bar along with several
rather tasteless naked lady pictures. The pool table felt had to have at least
three strategic rips as a result of drunken competitors and balls that looked
as if a gorilla baby had teethed on the sonuvabitches.
We were young, and
a helluva long way from home. We were pulling down
crappy wages for twenty-four hours a day, seven days a-week availability and
loving the life we lived. We didn't know it at the time, but our association
with the men we served with forged us into the men we became. And a lot of that
association took place in bars where we shared the stories accumulated in our,
up to then, short lives. We learned about women and that life could be tough on
a gal. While many of our classmates were attending college, we were getting an
education slicing through the green rolling seas in WestPac,
experiencing the orgasmic rush of a night cat shot, the heart pounding drama of
the return to the ship with the gut wrenching arrestment to a pitching deck.
The hours of tedium, boring holes in the sky late at night, experiencing the
periodic discomfort of turbulence, marveling at the creation of St. Elmo's Fire, and sometimes having our reverie interrupted with
stark terror.
But when we
came ashore on liberty, we could rub shoulders with some of the finest men we
would ever know, in bars our mothers would never have approved of, in saloons
and cabarets that would live in our memories forever. Long live those liberties
in WestPac and in the Med - They were the greatest!
"Any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life
worthwhile I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction, I
SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY."
*****
Principles
and Guidelines
for the
UDT Fifties Frog
Revised
Don C. Marler
The UDT Fifties
Frog Group (hereinafter referred to as Fifties Frogs or Fifties Frogs Group) is
an informal group of former officers and enlisted men of the Underwater
Demolition Teams who meet annually for a reunion. Those members of Teams 1, 3
& 5 who served during the Korean Conflict (1950-54) make up the core of the
Fifties Frog Group; however, any FROG or SEAL from any area or era is welcome
to attend and participate. Several members of the east coast teams are aboard
and we welcome more.
From the first
meeting in Branson
(Note) We are no longer chartered as a 501 (C) (19)
not for profit organization).
Principles
1. A Member is a FROG/SEAL who has supported
The Fifties Frogs by attendance on at least one of its annual meetings.
2. We shall meet annually under sponsorship
of a Member.
3. We shall strive to keep the Fifties Frogs group meetings simple, relaxed and
free as possible from protocol.
4. No sponsor shall be required to bear undue costs of sponsorship. An account
shall be maintained to make the financial burden lighter for the sponsor.
5. These funds may be raised in a number of
ways including but not limited to:
a. Voluntary
donations.
b. Auction of donated items.
c. Solicited items.
6. A central list of mailing and email
addresses will be kept up-to-date.
7. Currently this list is kept by Lee Hughs. Notify him promptly when any of your addresses
change.
8. Spouses or “significant
others” are welcomed and encouraged to attend. When a Member dies the
spouse or significant other is encouraged to continue meeting with the group.
9. Pam and Bob Russell who own and manage the
U.S. Naval Special Warfare Archives will keep a list of Frogs of the Korean War
era who have deceased. This list will include those who were not Members of the
Fifties Frogs Group as well as Members. List information or requests for
information may be sent to Pam Russell.
11. A Certificate (framed and under glass or
clear hard plastic) shall be sent to the surviving family of a Fifties Frog
Member upon his death.
12. A memorial brick at the UDT/SEAL Museum, shall be purchased for any Fifties Frog Member who,
upon his death, has no such brick.
13. The Fifties Frogs group has no officers
including president. The host acts as president for the year he is host. He may
appoint someone to act for him on any item as needed or desired.
*****
Guidelines
for Sponsoring the
1.
The sponsor should start months ahead of the scheduled meeting date locating
adequate space and facilities willing to host the group –(usually
30 to 60 Members including spouse/others). A hotel with a large meeting room
and banquet facilities and a block of rooms is ideal. A shuttle to the local
airport is a plus.
a. The facility should have a room suitable for a hospitality room capable of
holding the entire group and that allows Members to bring in their own food and
liquor.
b. There should be ice available and a sink would be a plus.
c. The hospitality room should have tables, chairs, and a nearby restroom.
d. The hospitality room should be available beginning the day before the
scheduled meeting date if possible to accommodate early arrivals.
e. A banquet room should be available in the facility or in close proximity to
the facility.
f. A block of rooms should be secured for Members.
2. As soon as possible notify the membership
of the exact dates of the meeting and name, phone number, address of the
facility so they can begin their own planning and scheduling. Also identify the
nearest airport. Give prices and descriptions of the rooms. Some rooms should
be non-smoking.
3. The sponsor may
request estimated funds needed to secure the arrangements and purchase supplies
needed. Supplies may include items such as: ice, liquor, chips, dip, nuts,
glasses, napkins, paper plates, postage, deposits, printing, etc. The request
can be made to: Gene Poole by telephone: 310-474-7867. The back up person is:
Don Marler, 318 443 7985 Home or, 409 594 8221 Cell
or email: – doncmarler@gmail.com
An alternative to getting an advance of funds
is to keep receipts and get reimbursed later.
4. Gather
information regarding local points of interest and send to members by mail or
email. The hotel’s arrangements or PR person may assist with this and/or
the Chamber of Commerce or the tourist bureau. Arrangement for transportation,
coordination, tours and scheduling for local events is a nice added feature,
but is a tremendous amount of work and is not expected. If the sponsor does not
wish to arrange these services the individual Members can make their own
arrangements. Information related to these issues would be helpful to those
needing these services and who are making their own arrangements.
5. Make
arrangements for the banquet and notify members of the costs and meal choices
in advance. It does not have to be elaborate; a buffet is simple, sufficient
and does not require individual choices in advance. Some extra persons usually
attend this function so you should have capacity for a few extra persons.
6. Keeping a log of pre-meeting contacts such
as those attending the banquet or attending special events, will be helpful to
the host.
7. Assign someone to register Members with
special attention to:
a. Issuing name
tags
b. Collecting funds for the banquet, group photos if
there is a charge and any other paid events-if any.
c. Recording up-to-date addresses, phone numbers and especially email
addresses.
d. Preparing a roster of Members attending the annual meeting.
8. Prepare a schedule of events for the
entire reunion with a detailed agenda for the last afternoon and evening. (See
the sample agenda below).
9. Arrange for a group photo.
*****
SAMPLE
SCHEDULE
For
FIFTIES FROG REUINON
2012
June 1 (Example only)
June 2
June 3
*****
Sample Business Meeting Agenda
AGENDA
For Fifties Frogs Annual Meeting
2012
June 3
A.
B.
A. Select next years
meeting place.
B. Announce when and where the group photo will be taken.
C.
Note: The host chairs the meeting or selects
someone to do this for him.
*****
RESOURCE PEOPLE
If the sponsor needs assistance, the
following are people who may be able to help:
1. The last person or persons who served as
sponsors.
2. For advance funds call Gene
3. For information on airlines that give
discounts to veteran’s organizations call Gene Poole at 310 474 7867.
Gene is willing to assist anyone seeking discounts from airlines. He maintains
our banking records at Wells Fargo bank and issues checks to reimburse expenses
of sponsors related to the annual meeting.
4. For general information send an email to
Don at doncmarler@Gmail.com or to Lee D. Hughs
Lee@wyoming.com or call Lloyd Crosby-- 417 887 0386.
5. For current
addresses contact Lee D. “Punchy” Hughs
-- Lee@wyoming.com Lee is a central communications person maintaining
information on the whereabouts of Members and generally facilitates
communications among Members.
6. Don’t forget the hotel personnel may
be of much help and also the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau.
7. Grady Allen is a professional
photographer. When he attends he may take the group photo.
gradyallen@sbcglobal.net
Revised
*****
The 50s Frog Reunion for 2012 will be in
Rate: $84.00 / day
Reservation Contact: 1 800 725 2236
Email:
Webpage: www.clarionhotelbranson.com
Frog Contact person: Lloyd Crosby
Ph. 417 887 0386
Email: vendit52@sbcglobal.net